Browns change plans Saturday, give Deshaun Watson unexpected first-team reps

The Browns have been rotating quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders with the first team from day to day at training camp, so any deviation from that schedule is sure to grab attention.

Such a deviation came on Saturday. Head coach Todd Monken said before practice that it would be Sanders working with the first team, but multiple reporters shared that Watson received all of the work with the first team.

Monken did not speak to the media after practice. A team spokesman said, via multiple reporters, that Monken changed the plans because he wanted to see Watson with certain personnel groups.

Earlier this week, Monken clarified a report that both quarterbacks will get a start in the preseason by saying that “if it’s still a competition at that time, why wouldn’t you start one and start the other” without targeting any date for the competition to end. The Browns play their first preseason game next Saturday, so the identity of the first guy up as the starter should come early in the week.