Deshaun Watson Faces Uphill Battle to Start for Browns in Week 9

Week 9 begins for the Cleveland Browns with uncertainty at the quarterback position as the team announced that starting quarterback Deshaun Watson had entered the concussion protocol after experiencing concussion like symptoms. 

As Cleveland explained in a statement, after leaving Sunday's 27-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers just three plays into the game due to a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jaquan Brisker, Watson was evaluated and cleared by an Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant and returned to the game. 

Things apparently changed on Monday night, when Watson began experiencing concussion-like symptoms. He reported them to the team and went into the protocol on Tuesday and now faces an uphill battle as he attempts to clear it in time for a Week 9 matchup with the New Orleans Saints. 

If he can't go, 2025 fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders will start in his place for the first time this season. While head coach Todd Monken hasn't officially ruled out the possibility of Watson clearing and playing Sunday, he did admit that the situation does present some unique hurdles for Watson in particular as a quarterback. 

"In terms of the mental aspect of it, just the position itself, I think is much more difficult," Monken said. "I’m not saying I won’t. I mean, there’s a long time between now and then, right? ... And you don’t know as the week goes on what could happen. It’s not ideal, right? It’s not ideal for any player to go through a week and not practice and then play. We know that. But every situation is different."

Just last week, the Browns dealt with a similar situation where starting right tackle Tytus Howard missed an entire week of practice while in the concussion protocol, but was cleared on Saturday and played on Sunday. 

The most notable difference for Howard was the fact that he was in the protocol immediately, whereas Watson didn't officially begin the process until Tuesday. That puts him on a quick turnaround if he hopes to return to the field to face the Saints. 

Not only that, the team will have spent the entire week prepping Sanders to make the start, leaving Watson at a disadvantage in terms of executing the game plan. That said, it would hardly be the first time in the NFL that a QB didn't practice all week, but played on Sunday. 

At 5-3 on the season and with the playoffs very much in view, it's safe to say Monken would prefer to have his starting QB available this weekend. The coming days will be crucial in revealing whether or Watson will be under center in New Orleans, or if Sanders will finally get his long-awaited opportunity to show what he can do in his second season in the league.