The Cleveland Browns placed Deshaun Watson in the NFL's concussion protocol, casting doubt on his availability for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. Watson took a helmet-to-helmet hit in the first quarter of a Week 8 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant cleared him to return on the next drive. Although the 31-year-old showed no concussion symptoms when evaluated again after the game and on Monday morning, Watson reported experiencing symptoms on Tuesday morning.
The Browns said Wednesday that they "immediately" placed him in the concussion protocol. The timing makes it unlikely Watson will be cleared in time to play Sunday. Shedeur Sanders would presumably start for the Browns, who are one game behind the Steelers for the AFC North lead with a surprising 5-3 record.
Watson controversially won the starting quarterback job after rupturing his Achilles twice. He struggled mightily when last playing for Cleveland in 2024, but the three-time Pro Bowler has exceeded expectations by completing 65.5% of his passes with a 91.2 quarterback rating, both his highest clips since joining the Browns in 2022. Watson has orchestrated five game-winning drives and three fourth-quarter comebacks in the first half of the season.
He also surpassed 300 passing yards in each of the last two games, a tally he hadn't once hit since 2020. Sanders is next in line to start if Watson can't play this weekend. The fifth-round pick struggled in his rookie reps last year, completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in eight games.
Dillon Gabriel returned from the injured reserve as Cleveland's emergency third-string quarterback in Week 8.
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