# Todd Monken closes in on his quarterback decision

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-08-23 14:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken is set to announce his starting quarterback for the upcoming season this Monday.

## Intelligence Brief
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken has provided a timeline regarding the selection of the team's starting quarterback, stating that he expects to announce the decision on Monday. The competition for the QB1 position has narrowed down to a battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Monken has specifically addressed the criteria for this decision, noting that postgame comments made by Deshaun Watson—described by Cleveland.com as a postgame outpouring—will not be factored into the final determination. This indicates that the decision will be based on performance and other metrics rather than the player's public statements following recent action. Coverage of the situation is widespread across major sports and news networks. Outlets including NFL.com, CBS Sports, and Yahoo Sports have all confirmed the Monday deadline for the announcement.


The New York Times and FOX 8 News have focused on Monken's insistence that Watson's postgame remarks will not impact the outcome of the competition. Additionally, the Cleveland Browns organization has released its own information providing a timeline for the starting quarterback announcement. These reports collectively emphasize the imminent nature of the decision and the high level of scrutiny surrounding the two candidates vying for the role. Contextual reporting from Bleacher Report and Yahoo Sports highlights the specific dynamics of the rivalry, identifying the struggle as a battle between the established Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. The stakes are further amplified by external analysis; Yahoo Sports reports that an NFL insider, known for level-headed takes, has advocated for the team to cut Deshaun Watson and instead start Shedeur Sanders. This internal competition suggests a pivotal moment for the Browns' offensive strategy and roster management as they enter the new season, weighing a veteran presence against a newer option in Sanders.


Looking ahead, the primary focus remains on Monday, when Todd Monken is anticipated to officially name the starting quarterback. Observers will be watching to see if the team adheres to the provided timeline and whether the final choice aligns with the insider suggestions reported by Yahoo Sports. Because Monken has explicitly ruled out the influence of Watson's emotional postgame comments, the football community will be analyzing the specific performance data used to justify the choice between Watson and Sanders. Further updates are expected from the Browns organization as the deadline arrives.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| FOX 8 News | Browns expected to name starting QB today | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMickFVX3lxTE5rNXA1U0tGTk5VeFJ0R0RsLU5mR19SR2IxZkxKMkhwbXNOUW9GNWFIeXl4U19xTmFSVHp5OVNFSlQ1NkpTTlFyY1Bvakdzb0VkXzduSTMtczVRV2UxOExWNmVEV25DaFpIWlFpUmRudHhTQdIBd0FVX3lxTFB0VzJrdGF5OEZGd0gwNk56RWlwYi1VVG94NXpUVFBjTmR2bVFNamxic2xkakZseW1tNDNWMExHeXJRSkZtX2Z6VW9GWWtFNUxKRkl3MkQtQ2FvTGF3SGtEdm9zRXFoSFAyVzhmdUJhM2kwVXdkODI0?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Cleveland Browns news: The waiting is the hardest part … | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwFBVV95cUxQSXJBZGk5V3EyamIwUnRnY2dLZmpNRTBLMlB5N2h4MkhMSW1xRUZRWDlmUFdPcjQtYzlieWhGdFNicEs1cDRXSTdWNklqTDltcG90bFp4amZwdm5HeHZnc0JyN3F2UVI1ejNCZkZBOW45N3ZIdlVaZ213aUNFVkxQMVJCQ1d6Zk4yS0VnU0NvUQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Thinking about Browns’ QBs while suffering from Watson Fatigue – Terry Pluto | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxOSnFrZ3RyTWgtUFVQN0ItWldZZTk0dlV0Z3B0cm8tNk1SQjNFdGExWjc2T05Tb2FPbkx1QVlxRWkyaHBvT2hXLVJhXzFtcFRQTUp1NlFGWGpub0Z5SGh4NjU2UWFWbDFmN2lSSi1iR3RsUzNKeEZjazE3Z1k5Yl92TnNBUDFkSkJRbTZfTw?oc=5) |
| 247Sports | The Cleveland Browns Quarterback Decision: What We've Been Told | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxQTzBmNkNnbElwS1pUWVRLalhoTWJvZlVGTlVra2l3ZzFpNVVTM3M3UENtRnVOR0lUaUxzYmpyMWJPX2paNTJRS01BWGlKLVBHMk5XbXdjZGd5RXg2dm9vWVQ5RFE5MEpzTFFhNnpZaC1lVy0zNjY1XzJSSjRLb1ZvSkpiYkU5UGQwQXJOSUdwMHB6Z0RzUFhZZFlpSXhGUUwwVXpRT2JvQWR5V2N3T1F2UzJ1TW4yMGFreWxZ?oc=5) |
| TribLIVE.com | Todd Monken says he expects to announce Browns QB on Monday | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxONEMzV19qbDJMeVFTam1NSjlhc1VHQjd1WmN2OUdHbV8xd0FkLVIzdElUNTlZTldrdmU5MVlOMVFWZEl5RHJmR1Vna0gtcTMtV2hWaHEyUWU3a21ZNm9xS0ZrSEd2SEhySGZZTW9kVzc5YmNRU0J0RU5CUlROSG41LWI5bUotOUhWZF9ZczVlS1hXdw?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | Browns' Deshaun Watson: Starting QB decision expected Monday | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxQUUUwWGdWZDdBaHNmQ2RrSjlmNHpwTUdIZUpWWnVKLU9sUTNmaGEwaG1rV0F6d0N4c3puV01iQ3I2THI0TFZhV0lmZEFQdWlmZko4cjRhUzZ2Q19CS0RQZXRkM1BjNGx3bFltdHBjRWg4SHhGMnpXUzVNbGxyN25hUFZHeE1CdGVmQkE3cGxQUDdrbVNDYWNRekI4QzEtazFXQWphS05qTDBxNXc?oc=5) |
| FOX 8 News | Monken says Watson’s postgame comments won’t factor in decision about Browns starting QB | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxPQ3N2aExLMm1RWVkzTkFuN3dfa25hTmwta3N2X1hJeUE4V1h1MjdqVDZ1QktkeFBEc3gyWGZ4Z3lQYjNGczlBanBkY3p6azdVTWFaSkl4eWdZaGpGYTA5aGhVRWNTWENOaHhINnc5VXBZNlJRSkxZdlluWEFNMkhSdGo4TERuR0F0Rlg4LVIyT0M0QmR6TkNJSXhIRTFZQkxHeUZPSHF1THlRZ2NJMlHSAbMBQVVfeXFMTnlVMjhKOWs2bkoyZ1IyS2plRWs2azlPakNXTE8yY0ZfQ0ZPZy12UVVSV21JQVN1MEtHVGNvZFJQX1g1eVNDUXNjS2FIb3dlWUgxOUg4bXE0bi10ZjVlRWNGSXNpWU96cFl2MkJIRllnTEhVaVNOYzFJUWVYc0hHMzE2clRVdXM1dDJ6Q3JOQWRtMFQtYlRCeVpMUWtNaVo2dF9fMkV) |
| Cleveland.com | Todd Monken won’t factor Deshaun Watson’s postgame outpouring into his QB decision; he’ll decide between him | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAJBVV95cUxQeU9kb2hTeEEtWENJUFJremc0VjQwWXNBN0lPNHpNRmNhNkpzOHQ2bDVBNW02TTgwTDdIYzhhVHZDbThOWGFWQVk5Y2pSNVB3YXU4UmI2QS1ZTVFWWDAwTnRoQ3M3ckkwMFdIT3k3VHBUb0wxbFBXN1pPNWVER1VpcG45RjA1ZlVFczRoMEJiMlBuck1tWEI2RnlLR1RDNUFGVnlvcFV2Y0ZwLUpNci11Y0pPRkZGTzNaNlI0b3hBbnNTYU1ibk90bXpjcjFYTVhkSHVJZXNGZzZ0X29HZUlmcmd6VVE3aTlUSG5VaVhlRk9QUjdfaWhZQkt2WkNUR1ltQWhHR25ZZWbSAZwCQVVfeXFMT3loTTZKRnNZYjNrZ0RkeGs5a08tV0tUeGhjczJLZVVkZ2FVUnkwcXYwOWQ5SXZpZ2NENmwyZFFmeTNRblpDb1Y0NzB) |
| Cleveland Browns | Todd Monken provides timeline on starting quarterback announcement - News and Notes | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiugFBVV95cUxQNWd5TWhyc2l2STlLMzAyZjBGVVJib2VXU0JSdzNrcW55M0FTS0J6YXJJMnVjNVF6a1dyUXR0NEVrNS1yMlRQZFhUZlFyUHQ2dnczSDhrMl9FWC1XSmthcDdsR09NT2tPMHlQSE11Ul9uOFJ5dkZ4VXFBS3ZOa0tNVlo2bVBUV1dsTEhVc3VERS14RFJJb0t4c1h4Skx4ZU1MZWtXR0hmRThJcUVMV21FOUQxejVNOTB0eWc?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | Browns expect to name starting QB on Monday; Deshaun Watson’s comments won’t impact decision | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisAFBVV95cUxPM2lwbm9VUzFzVWxmQlRZVTluUkpkRUItV3Nhc3U0M25taDZVWnkzdHpTYXpPZ0gyNmtwYjR5dEFQaFQteGpRM2VtY0RRMTRmaU02Q0FwUHZvbHlaWHZHR29TTzFUQ0k2MkpZb25sMnBENXg4MHNRVndwMW5CLTZwUlFCcC1lOU9WMkNLZ01tU1g2RXhzOHVWMG4xUFc4R3Z3dnU3SFlIb0hQX2JwMkJGbw?oc=5) |
| NFL.com | Browns' Todd Monken expects to name starting QB on Monday; Deshaun Watson comments won't factor in | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivgFBVV95cUxPS1Z1NF9LOGRaWWQtaXpWZ1BjeG1WNkhiZ0Y4czhtb0hOdDIzeU9BRVB1Y1dsbjhzd1VHLXItVFNQOENTLUtEc09VS3JfMVhZMmVFWmRmdTZoZEpUUUJndmNoZHRLc2lkenRBSTMtcWZJNWQwQTVVNDZ3SEppT0ozOEhtbDgyc09ydUtBZzA0YzlRdXRHLWxsWmVqWFJSYjN2ckR5dWVoS3hadHpCRWR4elFyTHJEOUxJOVNNckdR?oc=5) |
| Bleacher Report | Browns Set to Make QB1 Decision on Shedeur Sanders-Deshaun Watson Battle in New NFL Rumors | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixAFBVV95cUxNV0Jhd1MxYVZCdWZEbzVwSkFCamVOQUEwTkY5VGtmMDcxTzFnNXVxY1dpdkhHOTQ2WkU3VWdGbXZUMW9Tb3dFS2dlVVJZQXhfT0F3MGRFY1VLTUVuOHR5eXl3eEJFVk5oRDVFYVhKSS1OZ1ZtZGlhU1N6dVN1ZkxvQ3Y4bXVRdUstTEpHckJzRTlreDNXUXRDWU1EWEdIbUI3MUpmTUoybEltODhvb0ZBdklKRUJqSGljZExwSHNZWmswWUxH?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Todd Monken anticipates naming a starting quarterback on Monday | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxNUWM0dXNSMHc0UF93Qmw3M0JFaVZ2VjlqOXVBeE5paHNWV3hKWkV2M3g4WHJqZ3ktaDRkeWF1bEdfdExlLU1RT2hKRFhJblBxZlE5NVZwZzBLOGo3OGY0WlRVY0ZPLUVaX3hOVmdUdkJURnc5VFBZb2tYTU5SOTV0eGphR1RGS0FoRlNpRXVsRHNCQQ?oc=5) |
| NFL Rumors - ProFootballRumors.com | Browns Nearing Decision On QB Battle | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxORThiSTV5ck01ZGRxNnh0ZldTT2VvSElqNTE0c0xCa2t2aGkwZGt0b1YweFhyeE9KeS0xcjZzRjEtRmQ0VXhJYklORkZvdkg0RU8xUlZ1VEl5V01ZVkNuN2R2MWgwRU5qY3FsbFFHdUlqTmNJUDJwbUlFWndnTU9GcnlZMDg?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | “Cut Deshaun Watson”: NFL Insider Known for Level-Headed Takes Backs Shedeur Sanders as Browns’ Starter | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxNdHFlajAzTTUxbF95d3NsTUVmdUZlVUxZY2t4cDNyLXl4Mng1RF9UektqSDVTM3JzSTdHNDdpY1RyemRidXhCV0JWNnkySXJCZktvajI1WVBaUmVzLTQ1eUxzbEJGTk1RckJMcENpdjRWSDJBdDdvLWlTbjM0NGRaVUg1MHhpUQ?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-08-23/todd-monken-closes-in-on-his-quarterback-decision*