Browns QB race tilts to Sanders as Jets defence shows early promise
Cleveland’s quarterback competition appears to be settling in Shedeur Sanders’ favour, while New York’s defensive unit and San Francisco’s rookie receiver have emerged as key positives from Week 2.
The Cleveland Browns are poised to name Shedeur Sanders their starting quarterback following a decisive shift in their preseason Week 2 performance. Head coach Todd Monken, who indicated a decision could be made as early as Monday, now has the data points he sought to evaluate the competition between Sanders and Deshaun Watson. The outcome appears heavily influenced by Watson’s recent struggles, which saw him complete five of 12 passes for 35 yards with an interception, drawing boos from the Cleveland crowd.
While Sanders’ own performance was not without flaw, including an interception in each of his first two preseason outings, his Week 2 effort provided a stark contrast to the veteran. Sanders completed nine of 11 passes for 74 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The potential pecking order in Cleveland now seems to be a product of Watson looking unplayable, rather than Sanders securing the job through a dominant display. Monken noted that Watson’s postgame comments would not impact the decision, though the reaction from the faithful was a poor look for the veteran.
In San Francisco, rookie De’Zhaun Stribling has emerged as a prominent Rookie of the Year contender. The No. 33 overall pick tied for the team lead in catches with four and yards with 46, with three of those receptions coming from starting quarterback Brock Purdy. The pair demonstrated strong chemistry on the opening drive, stringing together three completions. Stribling’s odds have improved significantly, though he faces stiff competition from players such as Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, who are expected to hold larger roles in their respective teams.
The New York Jets’ defence recorded a banner day against the Pittsburgh Steelers, securing two interceptions and five sacks. Andre Cisco and Samuel Womack III both recorded interceptions against Steelers quarterback Will Howard, while David Bailey, Nate Lynn, and Chase Wilson contributed to the pressure. Although the starting unit played into the second quarter of a game in which the Steelers went scoreless, analysts caution that this result came against Pittsburgh’s No. 2 offence. The Jets overhauled the unit with free agent additions, but none are considered elite, leaving head coach Aaron Glenn with a group that must prove its competitiveness in the regular season.
Other notable developments include Michael Penix Jr. re-entering the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback competition after being cleared for 11-on-11 work. Penix is expected to make a run at the starting job, challenging Tua Tagovailoa, whose grasp on the role remains tenuous despite a starter’s preseason workload. Meanwhile, Green Bay Packers kicker Trey Smack demonstrated elite range, making all four of his field goal attempts in Week 2, including two from more than 50 yards. His longest kick of 59 yards suggests the Packers’ special teams unit may finally be a legitimate weapon after a year of inconsistency.
The Minnesota Vikings face uncertainty regarding J.J. McCarthy’s future with the team. The third-year pro completed five of 10 passes and was sacked once in 18 snaps against the Ravens. Coach Kevin O’Connell stated that McCarthy was "banged up" during his limited work, highlighting a recurring issue with the former first-round pick’s ability to stay healthy. With Kyler Murray holding the starting role, McCarthy’s long-term future in the offense appears increasingly uncertain.
