Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Deshaun Watson entered the NFL’s concussion protocol Wednesday, raising uncertainty about whether he will play Sunday at the New Orleans Saints.
Watson, 31, told team medical staff Tuesday morning that he had developed concussion symptoms. The symptoms followed a helmet-to-helmet collision with Pittsburgh Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker during Cleveland’s opening drive in last Sunday’s 24–17 loss to the Steelers. Watson missed three plays and underwent an in-game evaluation by an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant, who cleared him to return. He showed no symptoms during postgame and Monday evaluations before reporting them Tuesday.
TOP NEWS
Watson has started all eight games this season. He is in his 10th NFL season and was selected 12th overall by Houston in 2017.
If Watson does not clear the protocol before Sunday, second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders would start. Sanders, 24, was Cleveland’s fifth-round pick in 2025 and started seven games as a rookie. He has attempted four passes this season.
Dillon Gabriel returned from injured reserve last week and served as emergency quarterback in Week 8. Taylen Green is on the Browns’ roster.
The Browns are 5–3 and rank third in the AFC North, one game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Photo: Erik Drost / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
More: NFL · Cleveland Browns · New Orleans Saints
