Browns' Deshaun Watson Clears Concussion Protocol, Expected Back for Week 10 vs. Texans
Watson will be inactive Sunday in New Orleans with Shedeur Sanders starting and Dillon Gabriel as the backup, but Cleveland expects its starter back next week
Deshaun Watson is out of the concussion protocol, but he won't be back on the field until next week. Watson has cleared the protocol and is expected to be inactive for Sunday's game against the Saints, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported, and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler added that the Browns expect their starting quarterback back for Week 10 against the Texans.
Dillon Gabriel will serve as QB2 as expected, per source. The Browns expect Watson back for Week 10 vs HoustonView on X →
Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN): Dillon Gabriel will serve as QB2 as expected, per source. The Browns expect Watson back for Week 10 vs Houston
Clearing the protocol was the hurdle Watson had to get past, but the calendar did the rest. He reported delayed symptoms after a helmet-to-helmet hit in the loss in Pittsburgh, reported the symptoms Tuesday, was placed in the protocol and managed only one practice this week. Cleveland had already given all the starting reps to Shedeur Sanders, and coach Todd Monken named Sanders the starter on Friday.
With Watson inactive, Dillon Gabriel will be the No. 2 quarterback, per Fowler. The Browns had been carrying four quarterbacks since activating Gabriel from injured reserve.
Watson won the job in training camp and had started all eight games before the concussion. Sanders has thrown just three passes this season in spot duty. As a rookie last year, he made seven starts and went 3-4, completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
The timing works in Cleveland's favor. The Browns (5-3) play at New Orleans on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, then host Houston in Week 10 before their bye. If Watson is cleared and ready as expected, he gets one game back before a week off. Sanders' audition in the Superdome comes first.