The Browns’ quarterback picture changed fast on Wednesday, and it may have opened the door for Shedeur Sanders to get his first start of the season.
Cleveland announced that Deshaun Watson has been placed in concussion protocol, putting his Week 9 availability in doubt after the team’s Week 8 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Watson had been under center for the Browns all season, and the team’s 5-3 start had kept the original quarterback plan intact. Now, with the Browns heading toward a matchup with the New Orleans Saints, that plan may have to shift.
“Deshaun Watson has been placed in concussion protocol,” the Browns announced Wednesday. The team also explained why the situation surfaced after the Week 8 game.
Watson was cleared to return during the contest and did not show concussion symptoms afterward. But, as the Browns put it, “On Tuesday morning, he reported to the medical staff that he began experiencing concussion symptoms Monday night and was immediately placed in the concussion protocol.”
That timeline makes Watson’s status for Week 9 uncertain, and even though he could still play against the Saints, it appears to be a long shot given how late he was added to the protocol.
If Watson can’t go, Sanders is the likeliest option to start for Cleveland and Todd Monken. Sanders is currently the No. 2 quarterback, and he has already seen brief action in two games this season, including against Pittsburgh last week. In that appearance, he went two-for-two for two passing yards.
Sanders’ path to this moment has been a quiet one. After throwing for 1,400 yards with a 56.6 completion percentage, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a rookie, he lost the QB1 job to Watson in 2026. He hasn’t had a real chance to play this season because the Browns have been winning.
Now that Watson is in concussion protocol and unlikely to suit up in Week 9, Sanders may finally be in position to make his first start of his second NFL season.
In Other News...
Saints Give Audric Estim Another Shot With Depth Suddenly In Play
With the backfield picture changing, the Saints are taking another look at a familiar name in Audric Estim. New Orleans brought the running back back into the fold after claiming him off waivers from Cleveland, a move that gives the team another body in a position group where depth can shift quickly and where every practice rep matters.
Estim already had a brief run with the Saints this season, and the staff now gets a fresh chance to decide where he fits. His role from here will be shaped by what he shows in practice and, if he gets the opportunity, in games, as New Orleans sorts through its options and tries to settle on the right mix in the backfield. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Suddenly Face A Very Different Browns Offense In Week 9
The Browns are suddenly looking at a very different quarterback setup for Week 9, and the Saints have to prepare accordingly. Deshaun Watson was added late to the concussion protocol and did not practice Thursday, which has put his status for the game in serious doubt as New Orleans gets ready for a matchup that had been expected to feature Clevelands usual starter.
Shedeur Sanders is now lined up to take the first snaps for the Browns, with Dillon Gabriel behind him and Taylen Green as the emergency third quarterback. Cleveland has not officially ruled Watson out yet, but the recent practice reports point in one direction, leaving the Saints to adjust for a game plan that could look a lot different than the one they were initially preparing for. [Read more 🡒]
Cesar Ruiz Is Turning Personal Tragedy Into A Message Saints Fans Will Feel
Cesar Ruiz entered this season with a deeply personal reason to think about family and the road ahead. The Saints offensive lineman became a father earlier this year when his son Caiden was born during training camp, adding a new layer to a life already shaped by loss and responsibility.
Ruiz has also opened up about losing his own father in a fatal accident as a child, and he is now using that experience to speak about road safety in a broader way. His work with AAAs Slow Down, Move Over campaign puts him in a position to remind drivers about the stakes of paying attention and giving roadside workers the space they need. [Read more 🡒]