“Big Mistake”: Skip Bayless Takes Aim at Todd Monken for QB1 Choice Between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson

Newly minted Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken has been dealing with an internal decision throughout the current offseason. With veteran Deshaun Watson returning to play, Monken will now have to decide between him and rising star Shedeur Sanders as his starting quarterback for the 2026 NFL season. This decision may be made sooner rather than later with the preseason coming up. Recently, though, it was announced that Watson is starting over Sanders during the Browns’ preseason opener against the Chicago Bears. The NFL world has since debated the move, with famous sports analyst Skip Bayless chiming in with disagreement. On his X/Twitter page on Wednesday, August 12, Bayless claims that Monken is making the wrong decision by starting Watson.

“The fact Deshaun Watson is starting the FIRST Browns preseason game tells you new coach Monken wants to start him in the season opener – big mistake. This rising team should belong to Shedeur Sanders, especially after adding talented rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston,” Bayless wrote.

Watson missed the entirety of the 2025 season due to multiple lower-leg injuries, a pattern that has been consistent throughout his tenure with the Browns. While he was recovering, Sanders was inserted into the starting quarterback role after exceeding expectations last year. The son of NFL legend Deion Sanders was the 144th pick in the fifth round of last season’s draft.

With all of the discussions surrounding the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback, Deshaun Watson recently shared that he is just glad to be back. On Tuesday, August 11, Browns insider Mary Cabot uploaded a video to X (formerly Twitter) of Watson during a recent media availability. There, Watson asserted that his mind is clear and is not limited by fear of injury once again.

” I have a clear vision, I have a clear mind. So, I mean, I think the world know what I went through. It’s no secret, you know, off the field and then on the field also with injuries. So I think for anybody that had known what I went through, I think, you know, would be in a different spot maybe, you know? So I think I’m mentally tough and, you know, dealt with it as best as I possibly could to be able to be standing here talking with you guys, you know? Watson shared. So I think if I would’ve handled it differently, I definitely wouldn’t be, you know, sitting right here, you know, in front of you guys in my fifth year,” he continued.

” I have a clear vision, I have a clear mind. So, I mean, I think the world know what I went through. It’s no secret, you know, off the field and then on the field also with injuries. So I think for anybody that had known what I went through, I think, you know, would be in a different spot maybe, you know? So I think I’m mentally tough and, you know, dealt with it as best as I possibly could to be able to be standing here talking with you guys, you know? Watson shared. So I think if I would’ve handled it differently, I definitely wouldn’t be, you know, sitting right here, you know, in front of you guys in my fifth year,” he continued.

The Browns’ first preseason game of 2026 against the Chicago Bears is on Saturday, August 15, at home.

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