Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders enters his second year with a better opportunity at hand, but a familiar question lingers: will he earn the starting job for the 2026 season?

Sanders utilized his weekend youth football camp to reveal exactly how the high-stakes quarterback competition with veteran Deshaun Watson is unfolding in Berea.

"It's the same thing that we've been saying from day one, that we're both trying to be the best version of ourselves we could be...It's a level of respect that we all in the quarterback room have for each other," Sanders said per 92.3 The Fan's Daryl Ruiter.

Despite Watson's experience and contract standing, Sanders performed well enough during spring practices that what many saw as a formality became a real two-man race. And according to Sanders, they will accept the decision as it comes.

"We are not really emotional when it comes to things that we can't control. We mainly focus on and thrive on getting better in work every day," Sanders said per 92.3 The Fan's Daryl Ruiter.

Sanders and Watson even arranged offseason practices in the Miami area for the skill players in an effort to establish structural chemistry ahead of the official practices. 

Watson would say these practices are important for improving the relationship and play among skill positions but would also build a cohesiveness within the offense that would endure throughout the regular season.

Camp starts Thursday for the rookies, and the veterans report July 28. It is about to be "go time" for the non-contact work. When the games start to count, only one of the quarterbacks will actually get to play.

Sanders utilized that same collaborative mindset for the rest of his weekend.

Shedeur Sanders gives back at youth football camp in Cleveland

Having completed a Browns team workout with his teammates on Saturday in Miami.

Sanders returned to Ohio and was on the field the very next day running a free youth football camp for over 500 children, partnering with the Browns Give Back initiative at Brooklyn Memorial Stadium.

The campers were all over him in no time, and Sanders embraced it completely.

"Overall, I'm truly excited that they're excited to see me and stuff. I would say most of the time, usually athletes and everything, we're isolated more, so it's about getting in the community and just seeing everybody and seeing the inspiration that we give just by showing up," Sanders said via News 5 Cleveland. 

Sanders knew the awards matter far less than grassroots support. He focused more on the people, the Browns Give Back volunteers, coaches, and parents (and everyone else) who made the camp happen.

Can Shedeur win the starting spot, or will Watson hold the reins? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore