Shedeur Sanders is no longer favored to start at QB for Browns in Week 1

When a quarterback makes the Pro Bowl, it’s generally respected that said QB is the starter for his team the next season.

Especially when that QB is in his second year and still evolving as a signal-caller.

While that is what usually happens, and Shedeur Sanders would like to think that is how it should go, it’s becoming increasingly likely that he will be sitting on the bench in Week 1 when the Cleveland Browns take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road.

New head coach Todd Monken has been complimentary of Sanders, but he’s also been outwardly adamant that he isn’t the starter after finishing last year as the QB under center.

The Browns have four possible starters in Week 1: Sanders, returning veteran from injury Deshaun Watson, fellow sophomore QB Dillon Gabriel, and new rookie Taylen Green.

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Per Kalshi, the prediction website, Green is a non-factor, while Gabriel has a 6% chance of starting at QB for the Browns against the Jaguars.

Second?

That would be Sanders, who, a month ago, was at 60%, but following rumors that it was Watson’s job to lose after returning from a ruptured right Achilles tendon he suffered in 2024, has plummeted to 31%.

Watson is now up to 63% on Kalshi and continuing to rise, with Monken openly praising the veteran’s “superpower,” which is his athleticism, that separates him from all the other quarterbacks on the team.

Monken said he hopes to name an official starter at the beginning of training camp in July, which suggests he already has a strong inkling of who he wants to lead the team into the new campaign.

And at the moment, it appears as if that being Sanders is becoming less likely by the day.

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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 6:29 PM.