Shedeur Sanders may have just landed an unexpected opportunity to start for the Browns in Week 9 after latest development
The latest news on Deshaun Watson may have just created a big oppurtunity for Browns QB Shedeur Sanders in surprising news.
The Cleveland Browns are dealing with a Deshaun Watson problem that seemingly comes as a surprise. Watson has been placed into the concussion protocol, days after the Browns’ 27-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. That puts Cleveland’s quarterback situation in question heading into Sunday’s road game against the New Orleans Saints.
What makes the news so surprising is how things played out during the Week 8 loss. Watson took a helmet-to-helmet hit in the first quarter, and an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant checked him for a concussion. He was eventually cleared and returned for the Browns’ next offensive series. Shedeur Sanders finished off the series in his place and attempted two passes.
At the time, it looked like the Browns had avoided a major blow at the most important position on the field. Pittsburgh still controlled the game from there, but Watson finished it under center.
Deshaun Watson reported symptoms after passing multiple evaluations
According to the team, the Browns’ medical staff evaluated Watson again postgame and Monday morning as part of the protocol. Both times, he showed no symptoms, passed his evaluations, and was cleared.
That changed on Tuesday morning. Watson reported to the medical staff that he began experiencing concussion symptoms, and Cleveland placed him into the concussion protocol.
As of Wednesday, Watson remains in the protocol. There’s still time for him to clear it before the Browns take on the Saints. This very well could be heading toward Sanders’ first start of the season, though.
The timing isn’t ideal for Watson or the Browns. He’s coming off back-to-back 300-yard passing games and has led Cleveland to a 5-3 record. Watson has 1,806 passing yards, seven touchdown passes, and three interceptions, along with one rushing touchdown and three fumbles lost.
Watson is playing better than he has at any point in a Browns uniform. Still, that doesn’t mean he’s necessarily playing good football overall. The bar he’s clearing is a low one, given how rough his first few seasons in Cleveland went.
Shedeur Sanders could get his shot against the Saints
If Watson can’t go, the job falls to Sanders. The second-year quarterback started seven games for the Browns last season and went 3-4 in those starts. He threw seven touchdown passes to 10 interceptions during that stretch.
This season, Sanders has played in just two games. He’s completed three passes for two yards, so he hasn’t had much of a chance to show what he can do.
Sanders competed with Watson in an offseason quarterback battle for the starting job. He finished as the runner-up and was named the backup coming out of that competition. Watson’s play since then has kept Sanders on the sideline for most of the season.
Now there’s a chance the former fifth-round pick could start on Sunday, and it’s a great opportunity for him. A strong showing in New Orleans would go a long way toward changing the conversation around him after an up-and-down rookie season. He’s going to have a chance to prove the Browns’ quarterback room is in better shape than his 2025 numbers suggest.
A Watson absence would also shake up the depth chart behind Sanders. If Watson is unable to play, quarterback Dillon Gabriel would likely serve as the backup, with rookie Taylem Green in as the third quarterback.
It’s a bit of unexpected news for Watson, considering he was cleared on Sunday and again on Monday morning.
How Watson progresses through the protocol over the next few days will determine who’s under center for the Browns against the Saints. With a 5-3 record and plenty of season left, we have an interesting development here.
