On Sunday morning, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has cleared concussion protocol, but will not play against the New Orleans Saints this afternoon. Rapoport goes on to report that even though Watson has been taken off concussion protocol, that he's expected to be inactive when the 5-3 Browns take on the 2-5 Saints in the Superdome.

Watson has started every game for Cleveland this season. He sustained a hit in the first quarter of the Browns Week 8 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers that caused him to be evaluated for a concussion. Watson cleared sideline evaluations and returned to the game. However, he reported concussion symptoms early this week and was placed into protocol. He was cleared by the end of the week, but practiced just once.

Second-year quarterback Shadeur Sanders will get the start for Cleveland in New Orleans. Sanders was a fifth round choice in the 2025 NFL Draft, where the Saints selected Tyler Shough in the second round. He'd start seven games for the Browns as a rookie, completing 56.6% of his passes with 7 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and an average of 193.3 passing yards per game.

If Watson is inactive, then second-year quarterback Dillon Gabriel will serve as the backup to Sanders. Gabriel was a third round choice by the Browns in 2025, starting six games for Cleveland as a rookie. The Browns come into Week 9 with the league's 21st ranked passing attack. New Orleans counters with a pass defense that ranks 24th in the league.