Shedeur not feeling pressure over Browns' QB call

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  Daniel OyefusiAug 19, 2026, 01:36 PM ET

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  Daniel Oyefusi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN. Prior to ESPN, he covered the Miami Dolphins for the Miami Herald, as well as the Baltimore Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.

BEREA. Ohio -- With a decision at starting quarterback looming, Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders on Wednesday said he's not feeling pressure ahead of joint practice with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday and his start in the second preseason game at home Saturday.

First-year coach Todd Monken has not revealed a timeline for naming a starter between Sanders and Deshaun Watson but said he might use the preseason finale against the New England Patriots as a dress rehearsal. That would leave this week's practices and preseason game as possibly the final chance for Sanders to leave an impression before a starting quarterback is named.

"I'll say every day of my life's important," Sanders said. "Every day's important. I want to say it's [not] a day that's not important. So that's just another day going out there doing what I got to do, honestly. I don't really feel anxiety or any pressure going into things like that anymore because that's how I approach everything. So, it's just another day of going to work. That's all it is for me."

Sanders, a fifth-round pick in 2025 who started seven games as a rookie, has been splitting first-team reps with Watson throughout training camp. Watson started the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears last Saturday, and Sanders played in the third quarter. In three drives, Sanders completed 6 of 11 pass attempts for 79 yards with one interception.

When the Browns host the Bills for joint practice, Sanders and Watson will once again split first-team reps. While Sanders will start the second preseason game and play in the first half, he might be without Cleveland's starting offense. Monken said he and Bills coach Joe Brady agreed to hold out starters in the exhibition match if they get enough work in during the joint practice.

"Mindset heading into the practice? I would say the same approach we have every practice that we go to," Sanders said. "Go out there, get completions, run the offense the right way, and that's the main focus."