Browns considering baffling QB depth chart decision with Shedeur Sanders

The Cleveland Browns decided to name Deshaun Watson the Week 1 starting quarterback. It's a decision that was met with plenty of frustration from Browns fans, and justifiably so.

Watson doesn't bring much upside at all for the Browns, and Sanders at least could be something exciting as a young, polarizing, and fan-favorite QB. But the Browns went with Watson as the starter for Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Now, in the week of the first game of the season, Todd Monken told reporters and Mary Kat Cabot of Cleveland.com that the Browns could potentially shake up the QB depth chart and, instead of Sanders being the backup, give Taylen Green that job.

Browns considering naming Taylen Green QB2 for Week 1

"Todd Monken acknowledged on Monday there's a world in which sixth-round pick Taylen Green 'could be' the active No. 2 quarterback ahead of Shedeur Sanders for the opener Sunday in Jacksonville," Cabot reports.

Green came into training camp firmly in fourth place on the QB depth chart, as Sanders and Watson were competing for the top job and Dillon Gabriel was likely the emergency third QB.

But with Gabriel on injured reserve, Green has become the team's third QB. Monken is now considering elevating him further up the depth chart to be the backup in Week 1.

It would be a baffling decision, even with the context that Monken revealed that there "could be a package where we have him" on the field.

MORE: Why Browns are making a massive mistake with Deshaun Watson as QB1 over Shedeur Sanders

Green getting onto the field in certain packages due to his athleticism wouldn't be such a strange concept, but making him the backup QB might be a step too far.

If Watson goes down, relying on Green to be the QB the rest of the way is a risk too great to take so early in the season. In November and December, Green should get some reps. But for now, Sanders should firmly be in place as the backup QB.

The Browns could have three QBs active on gameday, with Sanders as the QB2 and Green as QB3 behind Watson. But, as Monken noted, "three is a lot."

So, if Monken really wants to use Green during the Week 1 opener, there is a chance, albeit a small one, that Sanders is a healthy inactive in Week 1 despite taking the QB competition down to the wire this summer.

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• Packers ‘motivated’ to sign Tucker Kraft to long-term extension
• Texans prepared to offer C.J. Stroud a $50M plus contract extension