The Cleveland Browns (5-3) will have a different starting quarterback when they take the field against the New Orleans Saints (2-5) on Sunday as Shedeur Sanders will make his first start of the 2026 campaign and his eighth career start in Week 9. The opportunity arrived for Sanders after veteran starter Deshaun Watson was thrust into the concussion protocol on Tuesday morning and missed multiple days of practice this week. 

Watson wound up clearing the protocol on Saturday, but will not be active for Cleveland against the Saints. Head coach Todd Monken explained this week that he felt it would be difficult for Watson to play this week after his delayed entry into the protocol and without taking the necessary reps for a game week. The team is also looking out for the 31-year-old by not forcing the issue and making him available in a backup role. 

Watson is the most notable name on the Browns' Week 9 inactives list. 

Cleveland Browns

With Watson officially out, and Sanders slated to start, Dillon Gabriel will be elevated into the QB2 role for Cleveland this week. He officially returned off the IR last week and was listed as the emergency third QB. That role will instead belong to rookie Taylen Green, who was in that role for the first seven weeks of the season while Gabriel was sidelined. 

Maliek Collins is the other notable name who won't be available for the Browns, but was expected as the team ruled him out on Friday's injury report. 

The Saints got some positive injury news for their matchup with the Browns as rookie first-round pick, WR Jordyn Tyson was activated off the IR and will make his NFL debut. Additionally, starting LT Kelvin Banks Jr., who had surgery to address a high ankle sprain, is also active for the first time since Week 2.

The Browns signed DT Sam Kamara from the practice squad to the active roster on Saturday in advance of kickoff with New Orleans. Kamara had already exhausted his three game-day practice squad elevations, so with Maliek Collins out this was the only way to have him available this week.