Deshaun Watson Enters Concussion Protocol Ahead of Saints Game

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson entered the NFL’s concussion protocol on Tuesday morning after reporting symptoms to the team’s medical staff, leaving his availability in doubt for Sunday’s road game against the New Orleans Saints, according to an ESPN report.

Helmet-to-Hit Evaluation Against Pittsburgh

The timeline traces back to the opening possession of Sunday’s 27-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, when Deshaun Watson took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker. In an official statement, the Cleveland Browns outlined that an ATC spotter called down to the sideline, prompting an Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant to administer a gameday concussion evaluation.

Watson was cleared by the consultant and returned to the field on the team’s next offensive series. Team medical personnel evaluated him again postgame and on Monday morning. Both times he showed no symptoms, passed his evaluations, and was cleared, the Cleveland Browns stated in a release.

On Tuesday morning, he reported to the medical staff that he began experiencing concussion symptoms Monday night and was immediately placed in the concussion protocol.

Cleveland Browns, team statement

The 10th-year veteran had previously been thought of as a stop-gap after winning the starting job over Shedeur Sanders on August 24 following a training camp and preseason quarterback battle. Before reporting his symptoms, Watson had completed 65.5% of his passes for 1,806 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions across eight starts, earning speculative Comeback Player of the Year chatter while pacing the NFL with five game-winning drives and leading all quarterbacks with 33 sacks taken.

During Sunday’s matchup in Pittsburgh, Watson briefly departed after the hit from Jaquan Brisker, giving way to Sanders for a brief appearance before returning to finish out the game with 324 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and eight sacks. Other players on the roster, such as Tytus Howard, Grant Delpit, and KC Concepcion, have previously entered the concussion protocol and managed to return in time for games after missing practice repetitions, leaving open a slight window for Watson’s potential availability if he successfully clears the remaining protocol steps before Sunday.

Shedeur Sanders Prepared for Potential Start in New Orleans

Should Watson fail to clear the NFL protocol before kickoff, Shedeur Sanders is positioned to make his first start of the season against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Sanders, a 2025 fifth-round pick, served as the starter down the stretch of his rookie year, leading the Cleveland Browns to a 3-4 record while completing 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, earning Pro Bowl alternate honors.

While Watson won the preseason quarterback competition in August, Sanders has made just two relief appearances this season, completing all three of his pass attempts for 2 yards. Dillon Gabriel returned from injured reserve to serve as the emergency quarterback in Week 8, with rookie Taylen Green also occupying a roster spot. Sanders recently hired an agent for the first time, though a trade is considered unlikely as he prepares to step into the offense.

If called upon against New Orleans, the 24-year-old signal-caller would operate within an improved offensive environment featuring upgraded wide receiver depth, including impressing rookies Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion, facing a Saints defense that ranks 28th in both yards per play and yards per game.

Cleveland Browns Trail Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC North Standings

The Cleveland Browns hold a 5-3 record, sitting in third place in the AFC North one game behind the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) and trailing the Cincinnati Bengals (5-2), according to Bleacher Report. Watson has started all eight games, completing 65.5% of his passes for 1,806 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions for a 91.2 passer rating, alongside pacing the NFL with five game-winning drives and 33 sacks taken.

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