BEREA — Todd Monken was sweaty and hoarse after a joint practice with the Bills on Thursday at Browns headquarters.
He was also smiling.
He loved the experience, and that there were no fights. More importantly, he felt good about his offense that has largely struggled through the first three weeks of camp.
Shedeur Sanders not feeling ‘anxiety or any pressure’ entering key stretch in QB battle
“It didn’t look like we were out of place,” Monken, the first-year Browns coach, said as he stood in the end zone of the practice field. “It looked like we belonged. That’s all we wanted to see. Does our first 11 give us a chance to move the ball and score? And I felt that way today.”
As the quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders drags on, the competition against the Bills, who had the NFL’s No. 1 pass defense last year, was a significant mile marker. They basically split repetitions with the first team and got time with the second team.
Both had ups and downs but overall performed as well or better than in most of the camp practices against the Browns defense.
Browns Deshaun Watson to Denzel Boston. pic.twitter.com/FUYKfk4SrR
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Watson started strong with a throw to rookie receiver KC Concepcion down the seam and an in route to tight end Blake Whiteheart, both into tight coverage. He made another good throw to Concepcion on a corner route and hit Whiteheart at the goal line for touchdown.
That was the highlight of his red zone drill, as Watson then made the two worst quarterback plays of the day. He had tight end Harold Fannin Jr. wide open for a short touchdown off a play fake but missed him badly in the flat. Then he appeared not to see cornerback Jordan Hancock and threw it right to him for an interception as Isaiah Bond ran a slant behind him.
KC Concepcion giving Todd Monken plenty of reasons to ‘get him the ball as often as we can’
After a slow start, Sanders got into a rhythm. He hit Concepcion on an out, receiver Malachi Corley on an in and rookie wideout Denzel Boston on a hook — left tackle Spencer Fano stoned edge rusher TJ Parker. Sanders got the two-minute drill and completed passes to Boston, receiver Tylan Wallace and Corley. They reached the 11-yard line needing a touchdown to win, but Greg Rousseau sacked Sanders. He hurried to get a final play off, and his throw for Boston in the end zone was broken up.
Browns red zone. Shedeur Sanders to KC Concepcion. pic.twitter.com/fgQjrenYWD
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“It was fine,” Monken said of the quarterback play. “Do you like to turn it over in the red zone? No. Do you like to miss an open touchdown? No. But, again, we got a lot of good work going against someone different, different looks. So that was really good. I’ll have to look at the film.”
Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson didn’t practice but yelled “Checkdown King” and did Sanders’ patented “wrist up” after a couple of short passes from the second-year quarterback. The coaches want Sanders to take the easy completions and he’s improved in that area in Year 2. He’s also thrown downfield more than Watson during camp.
Monken liked Sanders’ work in the two-minute drill and took responsibility for burning a timeout. Monken also acknowledged going back and forth between the ones and twos made it tougher on both quarterbacks.
Browns Shedeur Sanders with deep in to Malachi Corley vs. Bills. pic.twitter.com/v7fOepLrnq
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“It’s kind of awkward,” Monken said. “We wanted to make sure we got them reps, but right in the middle of the ones, you sub in the quarterback and that’s not always easy. But screw it, spot the ball. Make a (darn) play. That’s part of it, too.
“No, it’s not easy. All of a sudden you’re with the twos, but otherwise I’d rather have the reps and live with the disruption.”
The calendar puts Monken closer to a decision on the Week 1 starter. The play of the two combatants vs. the Bills probably didn’t.
Notes: Jared Verse says sparring partner Spencer Fano has ‘heart,’ is ‘great player’
Monken has said he “would love” to pick a starter by Monday — the preseason finale is next Thursday night — but won’t box himself in. The real deadline is in advance of the regular-season opener Sept. 13 in Jacksonville.
“I’ve been pleased with both of them and I was pleased with both of them today,” he said. “We’re not where we want to be and we don’t have to be. We’ve got a couple more weeks.”
He was asked what questions still need to be answered in the battle.
“Oh, I don’t … I mean, I haven’t looked at the tape from today and we haven’t played Saturday,” he said. “So that’s all still part of it. Just like every day is.”
Sanders will start Saturday afternoon against the Bills in the preseason game and play the first half. Monken said the “older” starters won’t play, which means Sanders will be with most of the second-team line and perhaps the rookie receivers. Watson, who started the preseason opener last Saturday in Chicago and played well, will play the third quarter.
He talked with Bills quarterback Josh Allen after practice.
“Just glad to see him out there,” Allen said. “I know how frustrating that can be to not be out there with your teammates and your brothers and continuing to fight to get back healthy, to get back on the field. And when you get there and then it happens again, so to have that mental resolve. Not a lot of people have that. It’s good to see him healthy again.”
The preseason opener was the first game action for Watson since he sustained the first of two ruptured Achilles tendons in October 2024. He’s played only 19 games in four years with the Browns.
When he was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Texans, he beat Allen and the Bills in the playoffs after the 2019 season.
“I remember. Deshaun is still him,” said Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins, a five-time Pro Bowler. “If you have a line that can protect the quarterback, then the quarterback is going to thrive. And he’s been that guy. He is that guy.
“And the world tries to paint a crazy picture that’s already painted, but let the past be the past and the kid ball. He’s a baller, and he’s here and he shows it.”
