MONKEN LEAVES BROWNS QUARTERBACK DECISION OPEN AFTER LOSS

The Cleveland Browns lost 34-10 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in their opening game of the season. Head coach Todd Monken had named Deshaun Watson starting quarterback after an off-season contest with Shedeur Sanders. Monken declined to confirm Watson would start next against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He said he had not reviewed game footage and did not want to react emotionally. Monken said he was not firing himself, his staff or any players, calling Watson "one of 53" on the roster. Sanders did not play and watched from the sideline.

Watson completed 16 of 22 passes for 205 yards and one touchdown, a completion rate of 72.7% and an average of 9.3 yards per attempt. Jacksonville sacked him five times and intercepted a first-drive pass intended for Jerry Jeudy, taken by linebacker Foyesade Oluokun near Jacksonville's 19-yard line. The Browns did not score until the third quarter, by which point Jacksonville led 31-0, when Cleveland kicked a field goal. Quinshon Judkins managed 33 yards on 12 carries without a touchdown, while Watson added 38 rushing yards on six carries. Cleveland finished with 87 rushing yards as a team.

Monken said the coaching staff, not only Watson, had fallen short, telling reporters "we didn't coach well enough" alongside acknowledging the team "didn't play good enough." His remarks drew criticism from NFL fans on social media, with some questioning his handling of the quarterback decision. The Browns are next due to play the Buccaneers, a match that will show whether Monken keeps Watson as starter or turns to Sanders. Monken said the coaching staff would "evaluate everything" from the defeat before deciding on the coming game.