The Browns’ quarterback situation took a sharp turn on Tuesday, and Isaiah Bond may be one of the biggest beneficiaries if Shedeur Sanders gets the nod in Week 9.
Cleveland put Deshaun Watson in concussion protocol, which makes it extremely unlikely he’ll be available Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. That leaves the Browns likely to hand the offense to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders on the road, and that kind of switch can ripple beyond the QB room.
Bond hasn’t done much with his chances this season. He has been on the field for just 19% of Cleveland’s offensive snaps in 2026, drawing nine targets and turning them into five catches for 86 yards.
His best shot to make noise came in Week 5, when he filled in for an injured KC Concepcion. Bond saw seven targets in that game, but rainy conditions and multiple drops limited him to three receptions for 74 yards.
The bigger reason Bond is worth watching this week is what he did with Sanders last season. As an undrafted rookie, Bond played 49% of the Browns’ offensive snaps and finished with 18 catches for 338 yards, flashing real deep-ball ability. A lot of that production came with Sanders under center, and the numbers jump off the page: in Sanders’ seven starts in 2025, Bond caught seven passes for 215 yards, good for 30.7 yards per reception.
With both players starting this season on the second-team offense, there’s every reason to think that connection has only grown. If Sanders does start Sunday, Bond could see more work as Cleveland looks to get its quarterback settled in quickly.
Sanders’ easiest path to comfort may come from getting back in rhythm with Harold Fannin Jr., who he connected with often last season, along with rookie receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. Those are the top weapons in Cleveland’s offense, and they’re the names most likely to draw the ball on Sunday.
In Other News...
Browns Trade Deadline Buzz Points To A Fix For Their Tight End Problem
The tight end spot has been one of the more obvious places for Cleveland to look as the trade deadline approaches, and Charlie Kolar has emerged as a name that fits the kind of fix the Browns could use. A strong blocker with familiarity in Todd Monkens system, Kolar would make sense for a team trying to steady the edge of its offense and give the running game a little more support.
Clevelands current tight end room has not done enough to quiet the issue, and the Browns also have some financial flexibility to consider a move if the right player becomes available. Nothing is confirmed yet, and there is no official indication the Browns are locked onto Kolar, but the fit is clear enough to keep this possibility on the radar as the deadline gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Trade Deadline Focus Is Starting To Come Into View
The Browns trade deadline plans are starting to take shape, and the early read is pretty clear: help on the edge and help in the run game are both on the radar. Cleveland is expected to explore the market with an eye toward adding a rotational pass rusher and a blocking tight end, two roles that can matter a lot once the season gets into its heavier stretch and roster depth starts getting tested.
Among the names being mentioned are Jermaine Johnson, Khalil Mack and Kayvon Thibodeaux on the defensive side, with John Bates surfacing as a possible fit at tight end. Nothing is finalized, of course, and these are still just possibilities tied to the Browns needs and the way the market is shaping up, but it does give a better sense of where the front office may be aiming if it decides to make a move. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Verse Publicly Challenged Browns Teammates After Steelers Cheap Shot
Jared Verses frustration after Sundays loss went beyond the scoreboard. The Browns defensive end took issue with the way a dangerous play by Steelers offensive lineman Mason McCormick unfolded during a field goal attempt, saying the hit could have ended his season and leaving him wanting more from the players around him in that moment.
Verse said he brought those concerns to his teammates afterward, stressing the need for better support when a teammate is put in harms way. Cleveland now has to move on quickly from a divisional loss and turn its attention to the New Orleans Saints, with the bigger question lingering over how the Browns respond to the kind of edge-case physicality that can change a game in an instant. [Read more 🡒]