Pat McAfee’s blunt two-word reaction captured the sudden shift in the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition after Deshaun Watson delivered his strongest practice of training camp.
Watson completed 17 of 20 passes with seven touchdowns and no interceptions during Wednesday’s session, according to tracking from ESPN Cleveland.
McAfee, never one to hold back, simply posted “HOLY (expletive)” on X after seeing the numbers.
The performance carried some important context. All seven scores came during a red-zone 7-on-7 period in which quarterbacks face no pass rush.
Still, Watson looked sharp and comfortable operating the offense, something that had been missing for much of camp. He entered the day needing a bounce-back after an uneven start that included six interceptions through the opening practices.
McAfee’s reaction stood out because the popular ESPN personality has been openly supportive of Shedeur Sanders throughout training camp. Earlier in the month he declared his show “pro-Shedeur,” pointing to the spark Sanders provided when he first stepped onto the field and expressing hope that the Browns would not “do classic Browns stuff” by moving away from a player who was winning games.
Watson’s strong showing temporarily complicated that narrative and reminded observers of the talent that prompted Cleveland’s blockbuster trade for him in 2022.
That talent has appeared only in flashes during Watson’s Browns tenure, which has been interrupted by a suspension and major injuries to his shoulder and Achilles.
He missed the entire 2025 season after a second procedure on the ruptured Achilles and has maintained throughout camp that he feels healthy while focusing on football conditioning. One strong practice did not decide the competition, but it kept him firmly in the race alongside Sanders.
Head coach Todd Monken has rotated the two with the first-team offense and has resisted naming a leader, repeatedly saying he wants one of them to separate through consistent play.
Watson could not carry the momentum into Thursday’s practice, finishing 11 of 16 with no touchdowns and one interception. Sanders posted identical completion numbers with one touchdown and one interception, while Dillon Gabriel saw limited work with the second team.
The Browns plan to use the preseason to help settle the matter. Monken is expected to start one quarterback against the Chicago Bears and the other against the Buffalo Bills, with the leading candidate then starting the final exhibition.
He has downplayed the significance of those starts, noting that the rotation will continue until one player begins to pull away. The distribution of practice reps remains the clearest early indicator of which contender is emerging.
