Who Should I Start? Deshaun Watson or Jalen Hurts

Saturday, December 6, 9:14 PM

The Cleveland Browns are planning to keep quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) on their roster next season, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. While Watson is considered unlikely to play this season as he continues to recover from a torn Achilles that required multiple surgeries, the team has expressed interest in keeping him on the roster, noting that the 30-year-old's veteran presence is valuable for their pair of rookie quarterbacks in Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Another big reason Watson is expected to return is due to the fact that the Browns would have to take on a dead salary of close to $135 million if they released him before June 1 and a $53 million cap charge if he was designated as a post-June 1 cap casualty. The record for dead-cap money was set by the Denver Broncos with quarterback Russell Wilson at $85 million, which they split into two years, but releasing Watson would cost the Browns significantly more. With Watson set to return in 2026, he's expected to compete with Sanders and Gabriel for Cleveland's starting gig.

Friday, December 5, 9:56 PM

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw two touchdowns but partnered those with two turnovers in last Friday's 24-15 loss to the Chicago Bears. Philly's offense has only managed to put up more than 20 points once in their last four games, and they'll have their hands full this week with a Chargers defense on Monday Night Football. Los Angeles has the second-best pass defense in the league this season in terms of touchdowns and yards allowed, giving up just 12 total scores and 168.3 yards per game through 12 contests. However, with Hurts' dual-threat ability and tush pushes always on the table, he's going to be worth a vote of confidence. The Eagles should find their stride on offense with playoffs around the corner, but temper expectations for their passing game in this matchup. Consider Hurts a low-end QB1 in Week 14.