Overview
- The Browns announced Wednesday that Deshaun Watson reported concussion symptoms that began Monday night and was placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol after a helmet-to-helmet hit in Sunday’s loss to the Steelers.
- If Watson cannot clear the league’s stepwise return process by Sunday, Shedeur Sanders is the expected Week 9 starter in New Orleans with Dillon Gabriel set to serve as the primary backup.
- Sanders has seen only four snaps this season after briefly relieving Watson on Sunday, completing 2 of 2 passes for 2 yards, and coach Todd Monken publicly critiqued some of his decisions from that short stint.
- Watson’s heavy hit exposure and protection problems are a central concern because he has been sacked a league-high 33 times this season, including eight sacks in the Pittsburgh game.
- Cleveland opened Dillon Gabriel’s IR-return window late October creating a four-quarterback roster and the team says it is not actively shopping Sanders or Gabriel, though the Nov. 10 trade deadline and strong offers could alter that stance.