Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders (Photos via Twitter and Imagn Images)
Deshaun Watson seemed to accept the inevitable from the sideline while watching Shedeur Sanders’ excellent NFL preseason debut on Friday night.

The 29-year-old Deshaun Watson is expected to miss the entire 2025 season recovering from a re-ruptured Achilles that required another surgery. Watson first tore the Achilles in an October home game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

With Watson injured, Shedeur Sanders is competing with Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco for Cleveland’s starting quarterback job. Sanders put on a show in his preseason debut against the Carolina Panthers, completing 14 of 23 pass attempts for 138 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to go along with 19 rushing yards.

Cameras caught Deshaun Watson’s sideline reaction to Sanders’ preseason dominance. And all we can say is that it was the look of a man who knows he won’t be the starting quarterback in Cleveland ever again:

Sanders still has plenty of work to do in convincing head coach Kevin Stefanski that he should be the starter, but he only strengthened his case on Friday evening.

Browns Could Cut Deshaun Watson In 2026

Deshaun Watson (Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)
The Browns know they made a big mistake giving Watson $230 million in fully guaranteed money back in 2022. Cutting Watson next year is no guarantee because of his hefty contract, but it’s an option Cleveland has to guarantee if they find their new starter in 2026.