Deshaun Watson starts at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday against the Houston Texans after clearing concussion protocol.
Browns head coach Todd Monken confirmed Wednesday that he chose Watson over Shedeur Sanders for the upcoming game, RDS reported. Sanders nearly rallied Cleveland to a victory last week in a 23-22 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Watson has orchestrated five winning comebacks this season for the Browns, who hold a 5-4 record. He now faces the Texans, the franchise that drafted him in 2017 before trading him to Cleveland in a major deal five years later. This meeting marks Watson’s third career appearance against his former team.
Monken kept his plans quiet early in the week, stating on Monday that he needed to consult with his offensive coaching staff before making a final determination. Watson sustained a concussion during the first quarter of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 1.
He missed only one offensive series in that contest, finished the game, and did not report symptoms until the day after the team’s 27-6 loss. Medical staff cleared Watson to resume full activities on Saturday, allowing Monken to evaluate his options alongside Sanders, who took all the practice reps during the week.
Sanders, who made seven starts as a rookie last year, struggled through the first three quarters against the Saints. He surged in the fourth quarter and overtime, completing passes for 297 yards with two touchdowns and a 114.6 passer rating.
The strong performance from Sanders prompted Monken to weigh another start for the young quarterback. However, with the Browns remaining in the playoff race, Monken ultimately turned back to Watson, who is playing in the final year of his contract.
Deshaun Watson sera le quart partant des Browns de Cleveland dimanche contre les Texans de Houston.
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