CLEVELAND, Ohio (THN News) - The Cleveland Browns have settled their quarterback competition, naming Deshaun Watson the starter for the season opener at the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. The decision puts Watson back in line to play his first regular-season game since Oct. 10, 2024, when he tore his Achilles. He later re-tore the tendon in early January 2025, an injury that kept him out for all of last season. Watson beat out Shedeur Sanders for the job after a preseason competition that featured uneven reps, loud public reaction, and another round of scrutiny around one of the most expensive quarterback bets in NFL history. Cleveland opens the season with a major quarterback decision already made. Watson gets the nod after a tense preseason Watson had been viewed as a slight leader for much of the Browns’ quarterback battle. He often received the first reps with the first-team offense, even though the total work with starters appeared to be split more evenly at times. The preseason schedule also hinted at the pecking order. Watson started in preseason Week 1 with several starters, while Sanders started in preseason Week 2 with mostly backups. That made the final call less surprising, even if Sanders had a real chance to push the competition deeper. Browns head coach Monken, in his first year leading the team, said the competition played out in “the best way I thought we could go about it.” The result is clear now: the Browns Name Deshaun Watson Starter Over Shedeur Sanders for Season Opener, and the team will open the season with the veteran under center. Quarterback Preseason role What it suggested Deshaun Watson Started Week 1 alongside starters Cleveland still viewed him as the front-runner Shedeur Sanders Started Week 2 with mostly backups He remained in the race but did not receive the same setup Browns staff Split reps at times The team wanted a competition, but Watson held the edge The Bills game turned up the pressure The timing of the announcement adds another layer to the story. Just two days before the reported decision, Watson struggled badly in preseason Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills. He completed 5 of 12 passes for 35 yards with an interception. He played in the third and fourth quarters with, and against, backups. Browns fans booed during the performance, and Watson responded afterward by criticizing the reaction. “I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance,” Watson said. “It’s a little bit more personal than that. So, I think it’s a disrespectful thing.” Those comments ensured the quarterback decision would carry more than football meaning in Cleveland. Watson has not only been fighting for the starting job. He has also been trying to regain trust from a fan base that has seen little return from the franchise’s massive investment. Sanders falls short in the first decision point Sanders entered the competition as the more intriguing option for many fans. He brought name recognition, youth, and the possibility of a fresh start at the position. Still, Cleveland’s handling of the preseason suggested the staff did not view the two quarterbacks as perfectly equal. Watson’s Week 1 start with starters mattered. Sanders’ Week 2 start with mostly backups mattered, too. That does not mean Sanders is out of the picture. A long NFL season can change depth charts quickly, especially when a starter is returning from serious injury. Watson’s two Achilles injuries add obvious uncertainty, and his recent performance has not quieted questions. For now, though, Sanders will have to wait. The Browns’ choice shows that the coaching staff still values Watson’s experience and believes he gives the team its best immediate chance, even with all the concerns attached to the decision. Cleveland’s Watson trade still hangs over everything No Browns quarterback decision involving Watson can be separated from the cost of acquiring him. In 2022, Cleveland traded three first-round picks, a third-round pick, and two fourth-round picks to the Houston Texans for Watson and a sixth-round pick. The Browns then signed him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. That deal reset expectations from the start. Watson was not brought in to compete for a job years later. He was brought in to solve the position. Instead, his Cleveland tenure has been defined by missed time, injury, suspension, inconsistent play, and growing frustration. Watson did not play during his final season in Houston in 2021. After the trade, he was suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 season. Since joining the Browns, he has appeared in just 19 games. That limited availability is central to the disappointment. The Browns paid a franchise-changing price, then had to keep building around a quarterback who has rarely been on the field. What this means for the opener at Jacksonville The season opener at the Jaguars now becomes a major test for Watson and Cleveland’s coaching staff. Watson will be returning from a long layoff and two Achilles injuries. He will also be playing under heavy scrutiny after a poor preseason outing and pointed comments toward Browns fans. The Jaguars game will not answer every question about the Browns’ season, but it will offer the first real look at what Watson can still be in this offense. Cleveland needs more than flashes. The team needs basic stability at quarterback, efficient drives, and fewer plays that put the defense in bad spots. That is especially true on the road in Week 1, where early mistakes can tilt the game quickly. For Sanders, the next step is different. He needs to stay ready, keep taking second-team reps seriously, and be prepared if circumstances change. Backup quarterbacks often become central figures in the NFL, and Cleveland’s recent history makes that lesson hard to ignore. The Browns are betting on Watson one more time The Browns’ decision is not just about the Week 1 depth chart. It is another declaration that the franchise is still tied to Watson, both financially and competitively. Naming him the starter gives Cleveland the cleanest short-term path. It also exposes the team to the same questions that have followed Watson since the trade: health, performance, public trust, and whether the investment can still produce anything close to the original expectation. Cleveland’s quarterback choice will be tested immediately in Week 1. Watson now has the job. The harder part starts in Jacksonville. If he plays well, the Browns can move forward with a calmer quarterback room. If he struggles, the calls for Sanders will return quickly, and the pressure around one of the NFL’s most debated quarterback situations will only grow.

LOS ANGELES, Cal. (THN News) - William “Will” Leapart, a 19-year-old former Tustin High School football standout, was killed late Thursday night in Compton in a shooting that has left friends, family members, teammates, and the Orange County community grieving. Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies responded shortly before 10 p.m. to the 14000 block of South Stanford Avenue after reports of a shooting, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Leapart was found dead at the scene. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office identified the victim as William Leapart, 19. He was known across Tustin for his athletic talent, his presence on the field, and the character that friends say made him easy to root for. A close friend of Leapart’s family said the shooting reportedly stemmed from a hat he was wearing at the time. Authorities have not publicly confirmed a motive. A quiet field reflects the loss felt by a school community. Deputies responded to a late-night shooting in Compton The shooting happened shortly before 10 p.m. last Thursday in Compton, according to sheriff’s officials. Deputies were called to the area after reports of gunfire. When they arrived, they found Leapart dead at the scene. The incident was also described in reports as involving a car crash, though officials have released limited details about the sequence of events. The case remains part of an active law enforcement investigation. Public details so far have been limited to the location, time frame, victim identification, and the confirmation that deputies responded to a reported shooting. No suspect information has been included in the available details provided in the brief. Authorities have not publicly announced arrests in the information presented here. For the people who knew Leapart, the lack of answers adds another layer to the grief. A young man known for focus, discipline, and promise was taken in a violent moment far from the football field where so many knew his name.

GREENWOOD, South Carolina (THN News) - According to Cody Alcorn of NBC -Atlanta, the Greenwood Police Department said the girl’s mother contacted law enforcement after discovering her daughter was missing. During the investigation, officers determined the teenager had been with Secdrick Cooper, 31, and that the two had engaged in sexual intercourse. Police said Cooper was arrested because the girl could not legally consent under South Carolina law. Cooper is charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, or attempted criminal sexual conduct with a minor, involving a victim younger than 16. He is also charged with first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Jail records show Cooper was arrested Aug. 16 and denied bond on both charges. Police said Cooper lives in Simpsonville and does not reside in Greenwood. Investigators said he and the teenager met through a mutual acquaintance connected to a workplace. Cooper signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2018. He spent the 2018 preseason with the team before being waived during final roster cuts on Aug. 31, 2018.

Live Updates Multiple teens murdered during opening high school football weekend in multiple states. 15year old in randomly shoots 2 women killing 1 Star Running back EJ Gibson carries #6 ranked Ensworth to victory in game opener Watson named Week 1 starter over Sanders for Cleveland Browns The Hattiesburg News The Award Winning Search The Hattiesburg News Welcome to the award winning Hattiesburg News, the only locally owned news organization in Hattiesburg. THN reaches an average 2.3 million viewers a month. Popular Tags Baseball (1) 1 post Butch Benedict (1) 1 post Carlos Wilson (1) 1 post Deborah Delgado (1) 1 post Dies (1) 1 post Donated (1) 1 post Drew Brees (1) 1 post Ellisville (1) 1 post Football (1) 1 post football (1) 1 post Hank Aaron (1) 1 post Jackson (1) 1 post mississippi state (1) 1 post Murder (1) 1 post New Year Murder (1) 1 post NFL (1) 1 post ole miss (1) 1 post Saints (1) 1 post Sports (1) 1 post stonka (1) 1 post Follow Us Featured Article Red Carpet Join the Award Winning THN Family! Become a subscriber TODAY! Subscribe to join the thousands of subscribers who enjoy our award winning news, content & more! Subscribe today to get unlimited news, sports, entertainment, podcast & more for only $9.99 a month. Subscribe Now Latest News Sports + Read More Local News + Read More Jail & Crime + Read More Weather + Read More #1 Sports News! Nobody covers sports like we cover sports! Sports Feature Lifestyle + Read More College Life + Read More Traffic News + Read More Political + Read More

Donivan Barnes Case Here's what we know: On Friday, October 6, 2023, Donivan Barnes, a 26 year old black man was last seen walking from Summer West Apartments, 216 West Over Drive, in Hattiesburg, MS where his girlfriend lived. Saturday, October 7, 2023, Donivan Barnes's body was found by his siblings in a ditch on West Over Drive less than 1 minute from Summer West Apartments. Tuesday, October 10, 2023, Lamar County Sheriff Office called Donivan's family to close the case citing no leads, no witnesses, no camera footage & no evidence. Wednesday, October 18, 2023, Andrew David Cook confessed at Lamar County Sheriff Office. His mother, Dr. Kimberly Walker Yawn confessed. No charges were pressed. They both were released. Thursday, October 19, 2023, Andrew David Cook was only charged with "Leaving the scene of an accident causing bodily harm or death." He was booked and released within 2 hours by Lamar County Sheriff's Office. Friday, March 6, 2025, all charges were dropped against Andrew David Cook. THN Investigative Team is investigating what happened before to Donivan's murder, during Donivan's murder, and after Donivan's murder including all persons, places, items, and surrounding events. Follow along and read the stories below. If you have any information no matter how big or small that could help us solve this case, let us know as soon as possible by visiting our contact page or emailing us news@gethattiesburgnews.com . You can stay anonymous. 1 2 3 4 5

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