Browns Put Deshaun Watson in Concussion Protocol, Shedeur Sanders in Line to Start vs. Saints
Watson reported delayed symptoms from a helmet-to-helmet hit in Pittsburgh, opening the door for Sanders' first start of the season
Deshaun Watson's status for Sunday is suddenly in doubt. The Browns placed their starting quarterback in the concussion protocol Wednesday after he reported delayed symptoms from a helmet-to-helmet hit in Sunday's loss to the Steelers, and Shedeur Sanders is next in line to start against the Saints.
#Browns QB Deshaun Watson has been placed in concussion protocol after experiencing delayed symptoms from a helmet-to-helmet hit during Sunday's game vs. the #Steelers. Watson was evaluated during the game and cleared to return. He also passed postgame and Monday morning evaluations without symptoms. However, Watson reported Tuesday that he began experiencing concussion symptoms Monday night, prompting the team to place him in protocol.View on X →
Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate): #Browns QB Deshaun Watson has been placed in concussion protocol after experiencing delayed symptoms from a helmet-to-helmet hit during Sunday's game vs. the #Steelers. Watson was evaluated during the game and cleared to return. He also passed postgame and Monday morning evaluations without symptoms. However, Watson reported Tuesday that he began experiencing concussion symptoms Monday night, prompting the team to place him in protocol.
The timeline is unusual. As Ari Meirov laid out, Watson was evaluated during the game and cleared to return, then passed both his postgame check and a Monday morning evaluation without symptoms. He told the team Tuesday that symptoms had started Monday night, which prompted the move into the protocol.
A player in the protocol has to clear every step of the return process and get sign-off from an independent neurological consultant before he can play, so there's no set timetable. If Watson isn't cleared, Sanders gets the start, his first of the season.
Watson won the job in training camp and has started all eight games. Todd Monken confirmed before the Pittsburgh game that Sanders is the No. 2 quarterback, and the Browns are carrying four quarterbacks after activating Dillon Gabriel from injured reserve, with rookie Taylen Green the emergency option on game days. Sanders started against Buffalo earlier this season in a game that went sideways.
The timing isn't great for Cleveland. The Browns fell 27-6 in Pittsburgh, dropping to 5-3 and handing the Steelers first place in the AFC North. New Orleans visits Cleveland on Sunday.