NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 08: Shedeur Sanders #2 of the Cleveland Browns looks on before kickoff of their NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints at Cesars Superdome on November 8, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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Cleveland Browns Head Coach, Todd Monken, has named Deshaun Watson his starting quarterback for week 10 in the National Football League.

Shedeur Sanders will be the back-up quarterback.

The Browns play the Houston Texans, Watson’s former team, Sunday, November 15.

The Browns enter the game with a record of 5-4, with an eye to the NFL playoffs.

The Texans are 3-5, and look to improve against the Browns.

As reported by sports.yahoo.com, “Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken was asked on Monday right off he if he was ready to name his starting quarterback for Sunday’s game with Texas?”

“I am not.” Monken said.

In the same article, sports.yahoo.com indicated that “On Wednesday morning, the Browns announced on social media that Deshaun Watson would start against the Texans…”

Watson, 31, was inactive for the Week 9 game against the New Orleans Saints, after he suffered a concussion a week earlier, in the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Sanders, 24, started his first game of the season for the Browns, and improved as the game progressed.

The Browns lost the game in overtime to New Orleans, 23-22, when Monken chose to go for a two-point conversion in overtime to seal a victory. The attempt failed, and the Browns lost.

Sanders went 19/31 passing in the game. He threw for 297 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Sanders finished the game with a 114.6 quarterback passer rating for the game.

Generally speaking, as NFL Analytics points out, “The NFL average passer rating hovered around 90-92."

A 90 is therefore a reasonable benchmark for a good weekly performance.

Sanders exceeded the expectations of an average quarterback in the Saints game.

For the season, Watson has a passer rating of 91.2 in eight games played. Right around average.

Monken elaborated on his decision to start Watson in thesports.yahoo.com article, stating, “I won’t look at it week-to-week.” He went on to say, I anticipate (Watson) being our starter. That’s what he’s been. He’s been our starter.”

Cleveland Browns Deshaun Watson 2026 statistics:

While compiling his 5-3 record as a starter, Watson has completed 163 of 249 passes, for a 65.5 completion percentage.

The average NFL quarterback completion percentage is 64%, so Watson is a bit better than league average.

profootballreference.com indicated Watson has thrown for 1,806 total yards. He has thrown seven touchdown passes.

Watson has rushed 51 times, for a total of 217 yards, and one touchdown. He is averaging 4.3 yards, per run.

Watson has fumbled seven times, losing three of them.

Cleveland Browns Shedeur Sanders 2026 statistics:

Sanders has thrown for 299 yards, and two touchdowns in three games.

Sanders has completed 22 of 34 passes, with a completion average of 64.7%, which like Watson’s average, is above the league norm.

Sanders has rushed for 28 yards, on 10 attempts. He has not scored a rushing touchdown.

Browns coach Todd Monken has his team in position for a playoff berth.

The Browns will now embark on a much valued, four-game home stand.

Here is the Browns remaining schedule, as listed at Clevelandbrowns,com

Week 10-home vs. Texans

Week 11- BYE

Week 12- home vs. Raiders

Week 13- home vs. Bengals

Week 14- home vs. Falcons (and former coach, Kevin Stefanski)

Week 15- at Giants

Week 16- at Ravens

Week 17-home vs Colts

Given a fair schedule, and five home games among the remaining seven, the Browns are focused on entering the playoffs.

In fact, the Browns can win the four-team, NFC North (Browns, Steelers, Ravens, Bengals.)

They still must play the Bengals and the Ravens in their division. They have split games with the Steelers.

The Cleveland Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 10 against the Texans. But Shedeur Sanders is waiting in the wings.