Todd Monken Leaves Door Open for Shedeur Sanders to Start Against Texans

The Cleveland Browns lost an overtime heartbreaker to the New Orleans Saints on November 8, 2026, falling 23-22 at Caesars Superdome, but the late-game surge by backup quarterback Shedeur Sanders shifted the team’s immediate offensive outlook. Sanders entered the contest after starter Deshaun Watson entered the NFL concussion protocol during the week, according to Fox News. Though Watson cleared the protocol Saturday, the Browns kept him inactive for Sunday’s game.

Sanders completed 19 of 31 passes for 297 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. His production included a 60-yard pass to rookie Denzel Boston and a 64-yard touchdown throw to rookie KC Concepcion that gave Cleveland a fourth-quarter lead. He also directed a late drive ending in Andre Szmyt’s 51-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.

Before Sunday’s game, Todd Monken stated that he assumed Watson would remain the starter when healthy, having named Watson the starter near the end of training camp and starting him through the first eight weeks of the season. Sanders, whose father is Pro Football Hall of Famer and college coach Deion Sanders, earned his first start of the year against New Orleans after previously starting seven games as a rookie during the 2025 season.

During that rookie campaign, Sanders posted a 3-4 record with seven touchdown passes and 10 interceptions while completing 56.6% of his passes. In his relief appearance on Sunday, Sanders was sacked five times by the Saints defense, absorbing pressure from players such as Chase Young and Nathan Shepherd, but managed to keep the offense moving with his legs and avoided throwing any interceptions.

His top targets on the day included veteran receiver Jerry Jeudy, rookie wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, and second-year tight end Harold Fannin Jr.

Todd Monken Delays Quarterback Decision

During a Monday press conference on November 9, 2026, head coach Todd Monken told reporters he was not ready to name his starter for the upcoming game against the Houston Texans, according to News-Herald. Despite reports from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler indicating Watson would return to the starting role, Monken maintained that the offensive coaching staff had not yet finished reviewing the tape.

Monken noted that it had been 10 weeks since Sanders last took reps with the first-team offense in practice, but praised the young quarterback for showing composure in the pocket and making plays with his feet to escape pressure.

I really haven’t thought through it other than getting through this morning’s tape. I just got done meeting with the guys; they’ll flush the game and then we’ll have a chance to meet offensively more extensively a little bit later today. We went through the tape, immediately had to break, go with personnel, then the team comes in and we haven’t had a chance to circle back as an offensive staff,

Todd Monken, Browns Head Coach

Monken praised Sanders’ composure and pocket presence while noting the team’s broader offensive inconsistencies. you are what your tape says you are, Monken said when addressing ongoing penalty and execution issues. He added that philosophy dictates a weekly evaluation process rather than permanent demotions due to injury, stating that the team puts the best players on the field each week to win.

It’s week to week. A player doesn’t lose or win a job — I don’t know what that means. Each week, we put the best players on the field that give us a chance to win.

Todd Monken, Browns Head Coach

Browns Struggle in AFC North and Wild-Card Race

The 5-4 Browns have dropped two consecutive games and sit 1.5 games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North division race, while also sitting one game behind the current qualification cutline for an AFC wild-card spot. The team features a roster that also includes quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green behind Watson and Sanders.

Watson started the team’s first eight games following his acquisition in a March 2022 trade and is in the final year of a $230 million contract. He has completed 163 of 249 passes for 1,806 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions, engineering five game-winning drives. Sanders operates on a rookie deal running through 2028.

Upcoming Matchup Against Houston

The Browns host the Houston Texans on November 15, 2026, at Huntington Bank Field for a 1 p.m. kickoff broadcast on WJW/FOX with Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma on the call, and radio coverage available across WKRK-FM 92.3, WKNR-AM 850, WNCX-FM 98.5, and WKKY-FM 104.7 with the Texans entering the game holding a 3-5 record.

Following the Week 10 game, Cleveland enters its bye week on November 22 before playing three consecutive home games against the Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, and Atlanta Falcons.

Earlier coverage: Shedeur Sanders Set to Take First-Team Reps as Browns Prepare for Saints Amid Deshaun Watson Concussion Protocol

More on this story: Deshaun Watson Enters Concussion Protocol, Shedeur Sanders in Line to Start for Browns

More on Shedeur Sanders: Shedeur Sanders Takes Final Snap in Browns' 23-22 Overtime Loss to Saints