Browns OC ready to unleash Shedeur Sanders on Saints

The Cleveland Browns' offensive coordinator sounded like a man ready to hand the offense over to his backup quarterback.

Travis Switzer didn't say Shedeur Sanders would start Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

But he didn't have to.

Everything about his Thursday press conference pointed in one direction.

The Browns' starting quarterback, Deshaun Watson, was not spotted by reporters at the start of Thursday's practice.

Watson is working through the NFL's concussion protocol.

He entered the protocol on Wednesday, November 5, 2026.

That announcement shocked the team's fan base and opened the door for Sanders to make his first start of the 2026 season.

Browns head coach Todd Monken was careful Wednesday not to rule Watson out for Sunday's game.

But the momentum behind Sanders has been building all week.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported on Good Morning Football that Watson's situation "almost certainly means he is out for Sunday."

Rapoport added that "Shedeur Sanders is expected to make his first start of the 2026 season."

Sanders has been leading the offense in practice for the second straight day.

That is a strong signal that he will be under center when the Browns host the Saints in Week 9.

Switzer may have inadvertently confirmed the direction the team is heading.

During his Thursday afternoon media availability, he was asked about Sanders.

His answer was direct and enthusiastic.

"I'm just excited to see him go play and hopefully let it rip, which I think he'll do," Switzer said.

He added: "He did it yesterday in practice. Go lead. Be in command, which I think he's grown tremendously in that area really since we got here."

Switzer later added an "if it were to be him" qualifier, as the team has not yet officially updated Watson's chances of playing Sunday.

But the tone of his comments suggested the decision is essentially made.

Switzer also provided a detailed assessment of Sanders' performance in Wednesday's practice.

"I thought he had a good day," Switzer said.

"His urgency, his ability to command and operate was good."

"We were getting in and out of the huddle pretty well, which is something we emphasized."

"So, yeah, I think overall he let it rip."

"He made some good throws, checked it down when he should."

"Overall, I think it was a pretty good day for him."

Those are not the words of a coach who is hesitant about his backup quarterback.

Those are the words of a coordinator who sees a young player ready to take the reins.

Sanders has been the subject of controversy even before he takes the field for his first start.

On Wednesday, he was required to do the weekly press interview with Browns reporters.

That is a routine part of every NFL quarterback's job.

In 32 NFL cities across the country, quarterbacks go through this normal part of the week every week.

Sanders was unable to take those mundane questions the way quarterbacks typically do.

His press conference turned bizarre.

When asked about the Saints defense, he went on an odd tangent.

"I've seen a lot. When I smile, just know that means something," Sanders said.

"I'm maturing. I'm maturing."

"Like, I could have given a decent answer, but now I'm just going to smile whenever it's just, like, some questions."

There were other instances where his answers came out like word pretzels.

On 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland on Thursday, hosts Ken Carman and Anthony Lima questioned Sanders' professionalism.

Lima pointed out that the station played other "normal" quarterback press conferences to compare with Sanders.

"(We) played at least six other quarterbacks today and they all sounded like quarterbacks," Lima said.

"Shedeur sounded like a middle school football player."

Longtime Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot was a guest on the show.

She asked some of the questions that Sanders bungled.

She referenced a comment from head coach Todd Monken.

"Todd Monken always says, you have to eliminate anything that gets in the way of winning," Cabot said.

"And the Browns are coming off of a football game in which Jared Verse kind of said some things that caused a stir and impacted that football game."

"So, you want to avoid those things, you want to avoid those things to the extent that you can and you just want to prepare to play good football."

"I know he was coached up before he went to that microphone and I know..."

The implication was clear: Sanders was coached on how to handle the media, and he still struggled.

Of course, no one will care what Sanders says in these situations if he goes out Sunday and plays well, and the Browns win.

But interacting with the media is, contractually, part of the job.

It is odd that Sanders can't seem to do it with a dose of normalcy.

The Browns' first-quarter play has been killing them this season.

That is one of the key reasons the team might be eager to see what Sanders can do.

Cleveland has struggled to score early in games.

Watson's injury gives the coaching staff a natural opportunity to evaluate Sanders in a live game setting.

The Browns have had several players enter the NFL's five-step return-to-play protocol this season.

Only center Elgton Jenkins missed a game due to the Browns playing on Thursday Night Football that week.

KC Concepcion, Grant Delpit, and Tytus Howard were all able to get cleared in time to make their next start.

But Monken acknowledged that it is harder for a quarterback to miss practice time and still play in the game.

"I just mean in terms of the mental aspect of it, just the position itself, I think is much more difficult," Monken said.

"If you're not able to take the team reps and the throwing reps, how do..."