Who Should I Start? Deshaun Watson or Gardner Minshew

Sunday, February 15, 4:09 AM

The Cleveland Browns "believe" that quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) will compete with Shedeur Sanders for the starting role ahead of the 2026 season, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. Watson started throwing again this past week, and he's expected to be a real factor in the Browns' quarterback competition this summer. Watson last suited up in 2024 when he went 1-6 across seven games with 1,148 passing yards, six total touchdowns, and six turnovers. Meanwhile, Sanders is coming off a rookie season in which he tallied 1,400 passing yards, eight total touchdowns, and 11 turnovers across eight games (seven starts). Neither quarterback has played particularly strong football in the NFL recently, but nevertheless, it sounds like the Browns feel comfortable with one of those two quarterbacks being their starter next year. In fact, Wolfe adds that Cleveland wants to use one or both of its first-round picks on offensive weapons but doesn't expect to draft a quarterback in the first round.

Wednesday, January 28, 2:31 PM

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew (knee) didn't tear his ACL as initially feared, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Minshew suffered only a bone bruise and did not require surgery. The veteran signal-caller avoided any long-term damage to his knee and is already back to full strength as he heads into free agency in 2026. Minshew was forced into action late in the season after Patrick Mahomes (knee) tore his ACL in Week 15. In his first start of the season in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans, Minshew injured his left knee and missed the final few games of the year. The 29-year-old was initially believed to have a torn ACL before the Chiefs said he had a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture. This news might make it more likely that Minshew returns to KC as QB insurance for Mahomes again. In four appearances in 2025, Minshew went 6-for-13 for 37 yards with one interception.