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Watson named
Browns starter
BEREA, Ohio (AP) -- Deshaun Watson has won the competition to be the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback for the Sept. 13 opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coach Todd Monken made the announcement after informing Watson and Shedeur Sanders.
Watson, a 10-year veteran, won the competition over Sanders as both split reps with the first unit throughout the offseason, training camp and the preseason. The decision will not be popular with Browns fans, who have booed Watson repeatedly during his time in Cleveland.
Watson says “we haven’t showcased my full talent and ability to run in (Monken’s) offense.”
Wright could
return to LSU
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- Former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright is heading to LSU if he clears waivers after being released by the Cleveland Browns, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus.
Wright signed with the Philadelphia Eagles following the NFL draft and joined the Browns after he was released on Aug. 11. Wright played two seasons for LSU coach Lane Kiffin in 2024 and 2025. He caught 39 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns for the Rebels last season.
If he joins LSU, Wright is believed to be the first player to return to college after playing in the NFL.
49ers owner
York charged
(AP) -- San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York was arrested over the weekend in Ohio and pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools. York was arrested in East Palestine, Ohio, and was released after posting a $5,000 bond.
He was sentenced to one day in jail for both offenses to be served concurrently and was credited with one day served when he pleaded no contest. He also was fined $1,150.
Court records show that York was initially charged with engaging in prostitution but prosecutors amended that to disorderly conduct. York was charged with possessing criminal tools for using his phone to respond to an undercover online prostitution advertisement, according to prosecutors.
Astros and GM Dana Brown mutually agree to part ways
GM Brown
leaving Astros
HOUSTON (AP) -- General manager Dana Brown and the Houston Astros have mutually agreed to part ways. The team announced the move Monday when it was tied for first place in the AL West.
Brown’s contract was set to expire at the end of the season. Senior adviser Jeff Bagwell and assistant general managers Charles Cook, Gavin Dickey and Connor Huff will take over Brown’s responsibilities while team owner Jim Crane will oversee baseball operations during the transition.
The move comes after the Astros went 3-6 on a homestand that ended Sunday to fall into a tie with the Texas Rangers for the AL West lead.
Alvarez chases
Triple Crown
(AP) -- Houston’s Yordan Alvarez currently leads the American League with a .320 average, 36 home runs and 90 RBIs. If he holds onto the top spot in all three categories, he’d be the first batter to win the Triple Crown since Miguel Cabrera in 2012.
The biggest threats Alvarez faces all come from the AL East. The next-highest batting averages in the AL both belong to Tampa Bay players -- Chandler Simpson at .310 and Yandy Díaz at .306. Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero just one home run behind with 35. Ben Rice of the New York Yankees has 34. Alvarez’s closest competition in RBIs is Baltimore’s Pete Alonso, who has 85.