Shedeur Sanders gets his first start as Watson stays in concussion protocol

The decision

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken has named Shedeur Sanders as the starting quarterback for the Week 9 game against the Saints. Sanders will make his first start of the 2026 season. The decision follows a week in which Deshaun Watson, the incumbent starter, was unable to practise fully and was placed in the concussion protocol. m:…8864 m:…7757

Watson reported concussion symptoms to the medical staff on Tuesday morning and was placed in the concussion protocol on Wednesday. He did not practise on Wednesday or Thursday and returned in a limited capacity on Friday. He is listed as questionable for the game. Monken said Sanders is starting because Watson has been unable to fully practise, and on the team's daily show he said the call was about giving Cleveland its best chance to win while Watson remains in the protocol. m:…8864 m:…8863 m:…7757

What Sanders has shown

Sanders has barely played. He completed one pass in Week 3 against the Panthers and two passes for two yards in Week 8 against Pittsburgh. Monken believes Sanders will continue to improve. m:…8864

The Browns' own show framed the start as a test of how quarterbacks develop now. Monken and the show's hosts discussed a disconnect between how young quarterbacks are prepared in high school and college and what the professional game demands of them: a gap Sanders has to close in one week, against a live defence, with almost no game tape of his own. m:…7757

The other side

The Saints have their own injury problems. Running back CJ Donaldson is out with shoulder and concussion injuries, and four players — Kelvin Banks Jr., Martin Emerson Jr., Asim Richards and Jordyn Tyson — are listed as questionable. Cleveland is also without defensive tackle Maliek Collins, ruled out with an elbow injury sustained in the second quarter of the Week 8 game against the Steelers. m:…6623 m:…8863

One number favours the rookie: the Browns' show noted the Saints' defence ranks in the bottom four of the league in total defence, rushing defence and scoring defence. A first start against a struggling defence is the kindest introduction the schedule could offer. It is still a first start, with two completed passes behind it, and the question on Sunday is whether a week of first-team practice is enough. m:…7757

The decision also leaves Cleveland with a question for Week 10. If Sanders plays well, the Browns have a real choice to make about their quarterback room. If he struggles, the question is whether Watson clears the protocol in time. Either way, Sunday is the first real look at a quarterback Cleveland has kept on the sideline for eight weeks. m:…8864 m:…8863

The Saints have made a change of their own at kicker. Charlie Smyth has been named the starting kicker for the game against the Browns, after New Orleans released Daniel Carlson, who missed four of 12 field goal attempts and two point-after attempts in seven games. Saints coach Kellen Moore cited consistency as the primary reason for the release. The Saints come into the game with a 2-5 record following their Week 8 bye, one game out of first place in the NFC South. m:…0975 m:…9478