BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns announced Wednesday that starting quarterback Deshaun Watson has been placed in the NFL's concussion protocol, putting his availability for Sunday's road game against the New Orleans Saints in question.
In a statement, the Browns said that Watson reported to the team's medical staff Tuesday morning that he was experiencing concussion symptoms.
Watson took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker on the opening possession of last Sunday's 26-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and missed three plays while he was checked for a concussion. Cleveland said he was administered a game-day concussion evaluation by an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant and cleared to return to play. Watson was then evaluated by the medical staff postgame and again Monday and did not show any symptoms before reporting them Tuesday morning.
While coach Todd Monken didn't rule Watson out for Sunday's game, he did suggest it was "a little more difficult for a quarterback" to work his way through the protocol and play without getting any practice reps throughout the week.
If Watson cannot clear the concussion protocol in time to play against the Saints, Shedeur Sanders would be in line to make his first start of the season.
A 2025 fifth-round pick, Sanders started seven games as a rookie, completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season, going 3-4 in those games. He has served as the backup this season after losing a quarterback competition to Watson. He has thrown just three passes this season.
"Last year I say I was able to see what I need to see, feel different things during the games and understand what I need to get better at," Sanders said. "So then going to this offseason, we worked on that and training camp of course and this offseason and overall I'm just excited for the opportunity."
The Browns are 5-3 and in third place in the AFC North but are one game behind the first-place Steelers. Watson has started the first eight games of the season, completing 65.5% of his passes for 1,806 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.
Dillon Gabriel returned from injured reserve last week and served as the emergency QB in Week 8. Rookie Taylen Green is also on the roster.
"I can't wait," Monken said. "This is so cool. I mean, that's an opportunity if it goes that way and he gets a great opportunity to go play and for us to see him go play. And again, I don't know how tomorrow Deshaun will feel tomorrow. I'm excited for today. ... So if that happens to work out, I can't wait to see him let it rip today and see where we're at. I mean that's what you do. That's why you build depth. That's why he got a ton of reps in fall camp. I mean, that's really the benefit of all this is when we opened it up as a competition, he got a ton of those reps."