The Cleveland Browns will start Shedeur Sanders at quarterback for Sunday's road game against the New Orleans Saints, head coach Todd Monken announced on Friday. The decision comes as veteran Deshaun Watson continues to navigate the league's concussion protocol.
Watson, who reported concussion symptoms on Monday following a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, returned to practice in a limited capacity on Friday. Despite his participation, he remains listed as questionable for the Week 9 matchup.
Sanders, a 2025 fifth-round draft pick, took all the starting repetitions during practice this week while Watson was sidelined. Monken noted that this consistent preparation was a primary factor in the decision to name him the starter for Sunday.
This will mark the first start of the season for Sanders. As a rookie in 2025, he started seven games for the Browns, recording 1,400 passing yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions while leading the team to a 3-4 record.
Reflecting on his development, Sanders said he used his rookie experience to identify areas for improvement. He added that he focused on refining his mechanics and understanding of the game during the offseason and training camp in preparation for such opportunities.
Monken praised the young quarterback's work ethic and progress, highlighting improvements in his footwork, mechanics, and ability to work through progressions. The head coach emphasized that the team's quarterback competition during training camp was designed to foster this growth.
Dillon Gabriel, who recently returned from injured reserve, is expected to serve as the backup quarterback. Rookie Taylen Green, who has acted as the emergency quarterback for much of the season, will return to that role for the Saints game.
Following the contest in New Orleans, the 5-3 Browns are scheduled to return home to host the Houston Texans in Week 10 before entering their bye week.
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