Insider reveals when Shedeur Sanders will play and take over for Deshaun Watson on the Browns

All roads appear to be leading back to Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland . At least that's what the latest report from a well-connected Browns insider suggests. Head coach Todd Monken 's original plan was to give Deshaun Watson the first few weeks of the 2026 NFL season to prove he could still lead the offense. But poor performances — and, more importantly, the results — may have already brought Watson's comeback to an abrupt end.

With that in mind, Sunday's matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , where the Browns will face former franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield , could end up being Watson's final start before Sanders takes over the offense.

When will Shedeur Sanders start again for the Browns?

Possibly sooner than many expected.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com , Cleveland's upcoming home games against the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers provide the ideal opportunity for Sanders to reclaim the starting job.

"It means Sanders has an excellent chance to start next Sunday's home opener against the Panthers, and the Browns expect him to play much better than he did last year as a rookie. With back-to-back home games coming up against Carolina and Pittsburgh, the latter a Thursday Night Football matchup on Oct. 1, it might be the perfect time to pivot to the second-year pro.

The Browns' fifth-round pick in 2025 out of Colorado, Sanders went 3-4 in his seven starts last season with seven touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. But he's come a long way since then, and so has his supporting cast," Cabot wrote.

Sanders chose to remain in Cleveland for most of the offseason to accelerate his transition into the Browns' new offensive system, improve his strength and conditioning, and build a stronger relationship with Monken. That commitment paid off, as the second-year quarterback earned the coach's trust with his work ethic and remained in the competition with Watson until Aug. 24 , just days before Cleveland's final preseason game .

Even so, Monken ultimately decided Sanders wasn't ready to open the season on the road against Jacksonville and Tampa Bay , especially with a revamped offense and an entirely new scheme. Inside the organization, however, there is confidence that Sanders will be better positioned to succeed at home, with the support of the Browns faithful and an offense expected to be much more cohesive after two regular-season games.

If the delay ends up lasting only two weeks, Sanders will have gained valuable time to master the new system , speed up communication in the huddle and operate the offense with greater confidence and efficiency.

A return to the starting lineup would mean more than just a quarterback change. It would also satisfy a large portion of the Browns fan base , many of whom believed Sanders should have won the starting job from the very beginning.