‘He’s Gonna Show Them’ — Travis Hunter Sends a Defiant Warning on Behalf of Shedeur Sanders With Browns QB Waiting in the Wings

The Cleveland Browns are sticking with Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback, at least for the time being. After a competition with Shedeur Sanders , the three-time Pro Bowler walked away with the QB1 role.

But the early returns have been far from stellar. After a brutal Week 1 performance, fans are already clamoring for a switch. Now, the second-year quarterback is getting a vote of confidence from his former teammate, Travis Hunter .

Travis Hunter Believes Shedeur Sanders Is the Better Choice for the Browns

New Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken split first-team reps between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders as they competed for the starting quarterback role. However, with the former Houston Texans star running a more stable operation, Monken gave him the job.

That decision wasn't popular with the Browns fan base, who were already raining down boos at Watson during the preseason. He fired back at fans in his postgame press conference but later apologized for his comments.

With a dud in Week 1, the demand for Sanders to take over the starting role has been intense. And Hunter, who played alongside Sanders for the Colorado Buffaloes and won the Heisman Trophy with him at quarterback, gave him his approval.

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"I wish he was playing too," Hunter said before the Week 1 game when the Jacksonville Jaguars blew out the Browns 34-10. "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."

In Week 1, Watson threw for 205 yards and a touchdown while throwing an interception on Cleveland's opening drive. Moreover, the Jaguars built a 31-0 lead before the Browns scored their first points.

Add in some operational issues, and the vitriol against the veteran quarterback was intense. Now, the Browns face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 before their home opener the following week.

If Watson cannot turn things around quickly, he could walk into an extremely hostile environment in Week 3. That could increase pressure on the Browns to make a change and put Sanders back into the starting role.

Last year, after both Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel had time under center, Sanders finally got his chance and started the final seven games.

He finished the 2025 season with 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, ranking 37th among 38 qualifying quarterbacks in PFN's Quarterback Impact Metrics.

But the Browns might gain more from developing the younger Sanders than from sticking with Watson through the final season of his contract.