Cleveland, Ohio: Browns Put Deshaun Watson in Concussion Protocol, Shedeur Sanders Preparing to Start

Cleveland, Ohio. The Cleveland Browns placed starting quarterback Deshaun Watson in the NFL concussion protocol on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, and backup Shedeur Sanders is preparing to start Sunday's game at New Orleans.

The Browns said Watson took a helmet to helmet hit in the first quarter of Sunday's 27-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The athletic training spotter called down to the sideline, and an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant evaluated Watson during the game. He was cleared and returned on the Browns' next offensive series, and he finished the game.

Symptoms showed up a day later

The team said its medical staff evaluated Watson again after the game and on Monday morning. Both times he showed no symptoms, passed his evaluations, and was cleared. On Tuesday morning, Watson told the medical staff that he had begun experiencing symptoms on Monday night, and the team placed him in the protocol at once.

Head coach Todd Monken credited Watson for reporting the symptoms himself. Monken said Watson felt fine after the game, then started feeling a headache on Monday night and came in Tuesday and reported it. "Shedeur will take the reps today with the ones," Monken said at his Wednesday press conference.

Not ruled out, but Sanders is the plan

Monken said Watson has not necessarily been ruled out for Sunday. He also said it is harder for a quarterback to play after missing practice time in the protocol, and that the team will let the process play out. Watson can attend team meetings while he is in the protocol.

The Browns are building the game plan with Sanders as the starter, and Monken said the plan would not change much if Watson is cleared, because the rest of the offense stays the same. Asked whether Watson remains the starter once he is healthy, Monken said Watson has been the starter for eight games and he assumes he is still the starter.

What each quarterback brings into Sunday

Watson, 31, has started all eight games for the 5-3 Browns this season, completing 65.5 percent of his passes for 1,806 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. He has been sacked 33 times, the most in the league. His eight games are the most he has played in a season for Cleveland since he joined the club in 2022.

Sanders, 24, was a fifth round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. As a rookie he completed 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions in eight games, including seven starts. On Sunday against Pittsburgh he played four snaps while Watson was evaluated and completed both of his passes for 2 yards. If Watson is not cleared, Sunday would be Sanders' first start of this season. Dillon Gabriel is next on the depth chart behind Sanders.

There is no set timetable to clear the protocol. A player must complete the league's return steps and be cleared by both the team physician and an independent neurological consultant. League reporting puts the median recovery at about nine days, which is why Watson's status for Sunday is in doubt.

The Browns play the Saints, who are 2-5, on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern in New Orleans.