Deshaun Watson’s week took a turn that opens the door for Shedeur Sanders, and the Browns have already made the call: Sanders will start Sunday against the Saints.
Watson began the season as Cleveland’s starter in every game, but that run is over for now after he entered concussion protocol. He finished last week’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, then developed concussion symptoms afterward and was placed in the protocol. That left Sanders to handle the starter reps in practice, giving him his first real run with the first team this season as the Browns prepared for New Orleans.
Watson did get back on the field Friday for the first time this week, which pointed to progress in his recovery. Still, that wasn’t enough to put him back in line to start. He missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, while Sanders worked with the first-team offense throughout the week and took part in all three practices.
A look at #Browns QB Deshaun Watson back at practice for the first time this week after being placed in concussion protocol on Tuesday. Watson will still need to be cleared from the protocol before returning to game action, and Shedeur Sanders will remain ready to start against the Saints should they rule out Watson.
- Camryn Justice (@camijustice) November 6, 2026
Even if Watson is cleared in time, the Browns are sticking with Sanders. Head coach Todd Monken said Friday that Sanders will start against the Saints, and the decision came down in part to preparation time. Monken felt Watson simply didn’t have enough practice work to be ready for New Orleans.
#Browns Shedeur Sanders will start at quarterback vs. the #Saints, Todd Monken announced.
- Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) November 6, 2026
Sanders now gets his first start of the season, and Cleveland is clearly hoping the extra reps help steady an offense that struggled last week against Pittsburgh. If Watson is cleared, he is expected to back up Sanders on Sunday.
Sanders has appeared in eight games for the Browns in 2025, going 3-4 as a starter while throwing for 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Now he gets another chance, this time against a New Orleans defense the Browns can try to exploit.
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