Head coach Todd Monken announced that Shedeur Sanders will start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints. Deshaun Watson practiced in a limited fashion on Friday but remains in concussion protocol; Monken said it’s uncertain whether Watson will be active as the backup this week, and he is listed as questionable.
Watson suffered a helmet-to-helmet hit in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although he only missed four snaps during the game, he began experiencing concussion symptoms Monday night and has been held out since.
Sanders will be making his first start since Week 18 of last season. This is his second appearance in 2026 — he briefly relieved Watson vs. the Steelers and was 2-for-2 for 2 yards before being replaced; he also took a short turn in Week 3, completing a pass against the Carolina Panthers. As a rookie in 2025, Sanders started seven games, threw for 1,400 yards with 7 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and the Browns went 3-4 in those starts.
Sanders said last season helped him identify areas to improve, and that he spent the offseason and training camp working on those things; he’s excited for the chance to lead the offense. The 5-3 Browns travel to New Orleans, then return home to face the Houston Texans in Week 10 before their Week 11 bye.
Fan Take: This matters because it gives fans an early look at whether Sanders can steady the Browns’ offense while Watson recovers — his performance could shift Cleveland’s short-term playoff outlook. More broadly, the situation underscores how critical quarterback depth and concussion protocols are to team strategy and player safety across the NFL.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
