Browns place Deshaun Watson in concussion protocol before Saints game

The Browns placed quarterback Deshaun Watson in the NFL's concussion protocol on Wednesday, the team announced. Cleveland said Watson told its medical staff Tuesday morning that he was having concussion symptoms, which puts his status for Sunday's road game at New Orleans in doubt.

What's confirmed

Watson took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker on the opening possession of last Sunday's loss in Pittsburgh. He missed three plays while he was checked, then was cleared by an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant and returned. According to the team, he showed no symptoms in evaluations after the game or on Monday before reporting them Tuesday.

Watson has started all eight games for the 5-3 Browns, completing 65.5% of his passes for 1,806 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions, per ESPN. Cleveland sits one game behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North.

What's still open

The Browns have not ruled Watson out. He has to pass every step of the protocol before he can play, and there is no set timeline. ESPN and NFL Network's insiders both point to Shedeur Sanders as next in line to start against the Saints. Sanders, a 2025 fifth-round pick, started seven games as a rookie but has thrown just four passes this season after losing the camp competition to Watson. Dillon Gabriel, back from injured reserve last week, served as the emergency quarterback in Week 8, and rookie Taylen Green is also on the roster.

What it means for RSO owners

If you start Watson in a superflex or two-quarterback league, line up a backup now rather than waiting for Friday. Concussion cases can move fast in either direction, and the waiver run on fill-in quarterbacks usually happens before the final injury report.

Sanders is the add to make in superflex formats if he is sitting on your waiver wire. A one-week start does not change his long-term contract value much, but a strong outing against New Orleans would reopen the conversation about the Browns' quarterback plan. In one-quarterback leagues, he stays a deep stash.

Cleveland's pass catchers carry some extra risk this week as well, since a backup starting usually means a thinner passing script.

Watch Watson's practice participation Wednesday through Friday, whether he clears the protocol before the final injury report, and which quarterback takes first-team reps in practice.