Shedeur Sanders Teases What to Expect If He Starts For Browns in Week 9

Everyone anticipated that Shedeur Sanders would get an opportunity to start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns at some point during the 2026 season. It very well may arrive in Week 9 when they visit the New Orleans Saints, under some abnormal circumstances. 

On Wednesday, the Browns announced that starting QB Deshaun Watson had entered the concussion protocol on Tuesday after developing concussion-like symptoms on Monday night. The veteran is now on a tight timeline to clear the league's protocol in time to play on Sunday, setting the stage for Sanders to be the next man up if he can't. 

Sanders is no stranger to the situation he's potentially facing this weekend. He spent the first 11 weeks of the 2025 season as a third- and second-string quarterback, before taking over for fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel in Week 11 after he suffered a concussion against the Baltimore Ravens. 

Then after a fierce competition with Watson at training camp this summer, he was officially named the primary backup at the position at the start of this season and has remained in that role for the first eight weeks. 

Now, his next starting opportunity could be on the horizon. 

"I definitely want to thank just the whole coaching staff and Andrew Berry, and everybody a part of the organization, for giving me another chance to be here for this year, this season and everything," Sanders said. "Last year, I was able to see what I needed to see, feel different things during the games and understand what I need to get better at. So, then going into this offseason, we worked on that, and training camp, of course, in this offseason, and overall, I’m just excited for the opportunity."

After taking over for Gabriel late in the season a year ago, Sanders wound up impressing enough that then head coach Kevin Stefanski opted to stick with the fifth-round pick the rest of the way. 

Over the course of Cleveland's final seven games, Sanders threw for 1,353 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions as the team's starter. The team went 3-4 during that span. 

With Watson returning from a ruptured Achilles this offseason, though, Sanders once again found himself waiting his turn, as new head coach Todd Monken seemed to trust Watson's to lead his offense to start the year. 

Still, Monken and others inside the organization have raved about Sanders' improvement and development over the last year. That praise continued on Wednesday. 

"Since I’ve been here, all he’s done is work," Monken said. "All he’s done is be diligent and ask great questions. And in every meeting, he’s dialed in, and he’s willing to talk to me about certain things or the rest of the players during the game. He’s talking to the guys ... that’s why I said I’m so excited to see it today." 

The next few days will be telling in terms of Monken getting clarity on who his starting QB will be down in the Bayou. While it's a very quick turnaround for Watson to clear the protocol by Saturday and play, Monken didn't rule out the possibility of the 31-year-old being under center come Sunday. 

If he can't though, Week 9 becomes a tremendous opportunity for Sanders to showcase just how far he's come in his second season. 

So what should Browns fans expect if he does start this weekend?

“I guess we’ll see. I guess we’ll see," Sanders asserted.