Browns OC ready to unleash Shedeur Sanders on the Saints

Browns offensive coordinator Travis Switzer didn't hold back Thursday when asked about the possibility of backup quarterback Shedeur Sanders making his first start of the 2026 season against the New Orleans Saints.

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

"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."

Starting quarterback Deshaun Watson was not spotted by reporters at the start of Thursday's practice as he continues working through the NFL's concussion protocol.

Browns head coach Todd Monken had been careful not to rule Watson out for Sunday's game when he spoke Wednesday.

But the momentum has clearly shifted.

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."

Switzer's comments Thursday afternoon only fanned those flames further.

When asked about Sanders, he described a young quarterback who has grown significantly since arriving in Cleveland.

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

But with Sanders leading the offense in practice for the second straight day, his chances of starting against the Saints feel like a foregone conclusion.

Switzer offered more detail on how Sanders looked during 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."

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

Center Elgton Jenkins was the only one to miss a game, because the Browns played on Thursday Night Football that week.

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

But Monken acknowledged that the quarterback position presents unique challenges when practice time is missed.

"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 you get the timing with your receivers? I'm just saying it's very difficult that way."

What makes this situation different for Cleveland is the unique quarterback setup Monken established during the spring.

During his first spring program as head coach of the Browns, Monken said he viewed both Watson and Sanders as NFL starters.

He backed that up by having the two players split first-team reps almost evenly throughout training camp.

Watson was eventually named the starter on Aug. 24, ahead of the team's final preseason game.

But that extended competition means Sanders has seen far more first-team work than a typical backup would.

"I think Monk mentioned this the other day," Switzer said, "but when you're going through training camp — and really all the spring, we were splitting those reps as we were going through all the installs — we were able to see him in a lot more reps than probably a typical backup would be because obviously we were finding out who our quarterback was going to be."

"So hopefully he can review back to some of those things, if it were to be him [on Sunday], and let it rip, play with confidence."

The Saints have struggled defensively this season.

They don't have any real film to study on Sanders operating the Browns' offense in a regular-season game.

That lack of tape could give Cleveland an advantage if Sanders does get the nod.

At this point, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Watson carry a questionable designation into the weekend.

That would almost certainly be for gamesmanship purposes, though.