Shedeur Sanders is still set to start for the Browns in Week 9, even after Deshaun Watson cleared concussion protocol and remains in the mix for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.
Watson’s status changed on Saturday, when Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported that he had been cleared and could be active. Cabot wrote, “Browns Deshaun Watson has been cleared from the concussion protocol and remains questionable for the Saints game,” and added, “Shedeur Sanders will start the game.
Watson will make the trip. Details to come soon.”
That update gives Cleveland another option at quarterback, but it does not change the plan for Sunday. Sanders was already named the starter earlier in the week, and the Browns are sticking with that decision.
Watson’s availability had been in doubt after the Browns placed him in concussion protocol a few days after their Week 8 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he showed concussion symptoms. Clearing the protocol before the Saints game was never a sure thing, and even now he is still listed as questionable.
If Watson is not active, Dillon Gabriel would serve as Sanders’ backup. If Watson is active, he still would not start.
The reason is simple: Sanders took the first-team reps Wednesday and Thursday while Watson was out of the picture, and the veteran quarterback only had one day of practice before the matchup with New Orleans. Cleveland could have leaned on Watson’s experience and his previous work with the first-team offense this season, but the Browns are not making another quarterback switch this late.
For now, the job belongs to Sanders. Watson may be back in the conversation soon, likely in Week 10, but unless Sanders turns in an eye-opening performance, the Browns appear set to move forward with the rookie as their starter this week.
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