The Cleveland Browns released their first unofficial depth chart of the 2026 regular season Tuesday and kept Shedeur Sanders listed as the No. 2 quarterback.
Sanders sits behind starter Deshaun Watson and ahead of sixth-round rookie Taylen Green. The listing comes five days before the Browns open the season on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Watson won the starting job after an offseason competition. Sanders, a fifth-round pick in 2025, started seven games as a rookie last year.
Questions lingered about whether Green might take an active roster spot Sunday. Coach Todd Monken left the door open to using the athletic rookie in a limited package of plays.
Monken was asked Monday if that would mean dressing three quarterbacks. He did not commit.
“I don’t think…well, if we could afford it, it’d be nice to have five or six quarterbacks up, but three is a lot,” Monken said.
The depth chart remains unofficial, so the coaching staff can still adjust game-day activations. Roster spots are tight on a 48-man gameday list.
Keeping Sanders as the primary backup gives the Browns an experienced option if Watson cannot finish the game. Sanders has already taken regular-season snaps in the NFL. Green has one preseason appearance.
Green still flashed in the preseason finale against New England. He rushed eight times for 66 yards, including a 30-yard run, and completed five of seven passes for 27 yards.
He also led a 15-play, 98-yard touchdown drive that ate more than nine minutes. That mobility could help in short-yardage or designed-run situations.
Watson’s injury history makes the backup conversation relevant. He missed the entire 2025 season after a second Achilles tear and has played just 19 games in four years with Cleveland.
In those 19 appearances, Watson threw 19 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions while taking 70 sacks. He is 9-10 as a Browns starter.
Sanders completed 56.6 percent of his passes last season for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran for 169 yards and one score.
The Browns face a tough early schedule. After Jacksonville on Sept. 13, they travel to Tampa Bay before hosting Carolina on Sept. 27.
An 0-2 start would raise questions quickly. Watson has not played a regular-season snap since October 2024.
Green ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the combine and posted a 43.5-inch vertical. Those numbers explain why Monken is considering a package for him.
Monken also said there “could be a package where we have him.” That comment fueled the discussion about whether Sanders might be a healthy scratch if only two quarterbacks dress.
For now, the unofficial chart keeps Sanders first in line behind Watson. The veteran’s health and early production will decide how long that arrangement lasts.
Kickoff in Jacksonville is set for 1 p.m. ET Sunday on CBS.
