Overview
- Monken announced on Wednesday that Watson will start Sunday against the Houston Texans after finishing the NFL concussion protocol and returning to full clearance.
- Shedeur Sanders started in Week 9 and completed 19 of 31 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-22 overtime loss, a performance that forced coaches to re-evaluate the depth chart.
- Watson has been Cleveland’s primary starter this season and has completed about 65.5 percent of his passes for roughly 1,806 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions, numbers that favored keeping him as QB1.
- The Browns made no trades before the NFL deadline and kept Sanders on the roster, preserving short-term depth and potential future options without making an immediate change at starter.
- The decision leaves Sanders as the top backup but signals coaches will continue to assess both players week to week, with Watson’s health and performance the central factors that could trigger another change.