Travis Hunter and Jarvis Landry push Shedeur Sanders as Browns brace for brutal Tampa Bay test

The loudest voices pushing Shedeur Sanders toward Cleveland's starting lineup this week do not work for the Browns. Travis Hunter and Jarvis Landry, one a college teammate and one a former Browns receiver, have both argued that the second-year quarterback should be on the field instead of Deshaun Watson.

Todd Monken, running Cleveland for the first time, split first-team reps between Watson and Sanders through camp before handing Watson the job. He pointed to a steadier operation and an opening schedule built around two straight road games. Fans had already booed Watson during the preseason. He fired back at them in a postgame session, then apologized for the remarks.

The opener settled nothing. Watson finished 16 of 22 for 205 yards with a touchdown and an interception thrown on Cleveland's first drive. The Browns picked up one first down in the entire first half, trailed 24-0 at the break, and watched Jacksonville stretch the margin to 31-0 before the final read 34-10.

Hunter, who won the Heisman Trophy while catching passes from Sanders at Colorado, was asked about his old quarterback ahead of that game.

"I wish he was playing too," Hunter said. "It's all good, though. He's gonna get his chance. When he gets his chance again, he's gonna show them. He's gonna show them why."

Sunday in Tampa Bay is the next referendum. A second flat performance sends Watson into Cleveland's home opener with the crowd already against him.

Jarvis Landry Questions Whether Shedeur Sanders Has a Future in Cleveland

Landry spent four seasons in Cleveland, led the team in receptions in every one of them, and scored in the 2020 postseason win over Pittsburgh. That standing framed what he said on ESPN Cleveland, where he drew a line between what Sanders can become and where he becomes it.

"I think Shedeur Sanders can be a starter in the NFL. I would say, I don't know if it's going to be in Cleveland. At some point, maybe even after the season, I would say Cleveland definitely needs to go out and get a guy," Landry said.

He did credit the growth, saying Sanders looked like a passer working on schedule and getting rid of the ball faster than he did as a rookie.

That timing matters, because Sanders ranked 37th among 38 qualifying passers in PFN's Quarterback Impact Metrics last season after completing 56.6 percent of his throws for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in eight appearances, including a 364-yard, three-touchdown game against Tennessee.

He sits second on the Week 2 depth chart, with rookie Taylen Green third and Dillon Gabriel on injured reserve through four weeks.

iPredicta gives Cleveland a 21.5 percent chance in Tampa Bay, with the Buccaneers at 78.5 percent. Closing that gap runs through the defensive front. Cincinnati hit Baker Mayfield six times, sacked him four times, and forced three fumbles in Week 1, recovering every one.

Mayfield still spread 193 net passing yards across six receivers, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Bucky Irving among them, and Denzel Ward has framed the answer as cleaner assignment execution. Watson has room too. Tampa Bay allowed 245 net passing yards to the Bengals, ninth most that week, and his 46-yard touchdown to rookie Denzel Boston showed the ceiling.

More NFL news:

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• Shedeur Sanders could thrive in Todd Monken's offense despite lacking Lamar Jackson's legs