Overview
- Coach Todd Monken announced Friday that Sanders will start Sunday in New Orleans after the Browns prepared their game plan with him taking first-team reps.
- Deshaun Watson returned to limited practice on Friday but remains in the concussion protocol and is officially listed as questionable for the Week 9 game.
- Watson entered the protocol after a helmet-to-helmet hit in last Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and later reported concussion symptoms despite initial in-game clearance by the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant.
- Sanders started seven games as a rookie in 2025 and has shown measurable improvement in footwork, mechanics and command in practice, but he has seen only brief regular-season snaps this year.
- This start gives Cleveland a short-term evaluation of Sanders that could influence the Browns’ quarterback discussion and roster planning heading into the next stretch of the season.