Shedeur Sanders Prepping To Start For Browns With Deshaun Watson In Concussion Protocol

Shedeur Sanders prepping to start for Browns with Deshaun Watson in concussion protocol has suddenly reshaped Cleveland's preparations for Week 10.

The Cleveland Browns are getting their rookie passer ready to lead the offense on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Head coach Todd Monken confirmed that Sanders is currently handling the workload as the potential starter.

Watson has not been formally ruled out for the road contest in New Orleans.

However, the starting quarterback remains sidelined under medical supervision following a brutal divisional matchup.

Watson reported concussion symptoms days after absorbing heavy contact against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The setback opens the door for Sanders to step under center for the first time in the regular season.

A DELAYED REACTION IN BEREA

Watson entered the league concussion protocol on Tuesday after arriving at team headquarters with a headache.

The physical toll stemmed from a punishing 27-6 loss to the Steelers on November 1.

Pittsburgh defenders sacked Watson eight times during the lopsided divisional defeat.

The trouble began on the very first drive of the contest.

Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker came free on a blitz and struck Watson high.

Game officials flagged Brisker for roughing the passer due to contact to the head or neck area.

The penalty awarded the Browns a free first down and 15 penalty yards.

Medical staff immediately removed Watson from the game to conduct an evaluation for a potential concussion.

Watson passed the initial testing and received clearance to return to action.

He played the rest of the contest without displaying outward signs of head trauma.

Watson also reported no symptoms throughout Monday.

The situation shifted when Watson self-reported lingering discomfort upon arriving in Berea on Tuesday.

Under National Football League safety procedures, any self-reported headache following a blow to the head requires immediate placement in the protocol.

CONTROVERSY OVER THE HIT

Brisker strongly voiced his disagreement with the penalty call after the game.

The Pittsburgh safety took aim at Watson in postgame remarks, claiming the quarterback exaggerated the impact.

Brisker said Watson had his binky in his mouth to sell the hit and draw the flag.

He accused the officiating crew of babying the quarterback during the sequence.

Brisker also claimed Watson was crying to influence the officials on the field.

The NFL operations department reviews every roughing the passer foul for potential discipline.

The league could issue a significant financial fine against Brisker for forcible contact to the head.

Any disciplinary decisions and fine notices are traditionally withheld until Saturday.

Brisker also made headlines following the victory by ripping Los Angeles Rams defender Jared Verse in addition to Watson.

THE RETURN PROCESS

Watson must now advance through every mandated phase of the concussion protocol before he can play again.

The league's return-to-play guidelines require players to clear multiple exertion benchmarks without recurring symptoms.

A player must gradually introduce cardiovascular exercise and sport-specific training.

Non-contact football drills follow before full-contact clearance can be considered.

The final approval requires evaluation by both the team physician and an Independent Neurological Consultant.

Monken offered an encouraging update on Watson's recovery during his Wednesday media session.

The head coach stated that Watson felt significantly better before the team took the field for practice.

Monken acknowledged that Watson's status for the end of the week remains completely unpredictable.

SANDERS STEPS INTO THE SPOTLIGHT

Because of the medical uncertainty, Sanders took control of first-team repetitions ahead of Sunday.

Monken expressed excitement about seeing Sanders cut loose during practice sessions.

The coaching staff believes Sanders is well-positioned to step in due to how the offseason unfolded.

Monken originally opened the starting quarterback job to an open competition when he took over the program.

The quarterback battle between Watson and Sanders lasted months longer than Monken initially anticipated.

When Monken was hired in January, he stated a public goal of deciding his starter before training camp opened.

Instead, the fierce battle extended deep into August before the staff reached a conclusion.

The Browns ultimately named Watson the starter on August 24.

Because the competition ran through the entire summer, Sanders received an unusually high volume of first-team reps.

Those offseason snaps now serve as vital preparation for Sanders ahead of a potential road start.

READY FOR THE CHALLENGE

Sanders addressed reporters at team headquarters on November 4 regarding the sudden opportunity.

The 24-year-old quarterback expressed empathy for Watson's medical situation.

Sanders emphasized that Watson had successfully led the roster through the first half of the season.

He stated that his primary responsibility is stepping up for the quarterback room and the entire team.

Sanders reflected on his journey, noting that he has already weathered many ups and downs in his young career.

That background gives him the composure required to handle high-stakes preparation on short notice.

External expectations for Sanders remain high despite his backup status.

Radio analyst Daryl Ruiter stated on 92.3 The Fan that his personal expectation for Sanders would be to win.

Ruiter also reiterated that Watson cannot be entirely ruled out until final injury designations arrive.