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NFL preseason Week 2 overreactions: Shedeur Sanders will start for Browns, Jets' defense is fixed - CBS Sports
Entertainment and CultureBy Carter Bahns8/23/20261 min read
Not everything that unfolded in the second batch of preseason action is worth reading into
✨ Key Highlights
- The Browns appear poised to name a starting quarterback as early as Monday after Deshaun Watson's poor preseason Week 2 outing, in which he went 5-for-12 for 35 yards with an interception and was booed off the field by Cleveland fans.
- Shedeur Sanders is positioned to open the season atop the depth chart, though the shift stems more from Watson's struggles than Sanders' own play; the rookie threw an interception in each of his first two preseason games.
- Sanders bounced back in Week 2, completing 9 of 11 passes for 74 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and is considered among the biggest winners of the second week of preseason.
- Offensive coordinator Todd Monken had planned for Watson and Sanders to each get one start to gather data, and said Watson's postgame comments toward fans would not factor into the decision.
- 49ers undrafted rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling emerged as a bright spot amid San Francisco's injury woes, tying for the team lead with four catches for 46 yards against the Chargers after posting seven receptions for 63 yards the prior week.
- Stribling connected three times with starter Brock Purdy, including on the opening drive, and also hauled in a 21-yard reception from Mac Jones, fueling speculation about a potential Offensive Rookie of the Year run.
The NFL preseason is ripe for overreactions. Much of what unfolds on game days should be taken with a grain of salt as teams hold back the "good stuff" from their playbooks and rest their starters. A