Cleveland Browns to bench Shedeur Sanders after strong debut

Cleveland Browns fans will see Deshaun Watson under center again this week. The team plans to revert to Watson as the starter for the Week 10 matchup against the Houston Texans, according to a source familiar with the decision. This move comes one day after Watson sat out due to concussion protocol and his backup delivered a standout performance.

Shedeur Sanders led the offense in Sunday’s 23-22 overtime defeat against the New Orleans Saints. In his first start of the season, Sanders completed 19 of 31 pass attempts for 297 yards and two touchdowns. His output included a 60-yard completion to rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston and a 64-yard touchdown to rookie KC Concepcion. These two throws exceeded the total distance of all 60-plus yard completions Watson recorded in his first eight games combined.

Despite the strong numbers, the coaching staff is sticking with its original plan. Coach Todd Monken told reporters on Monday that he had not yet made a final decision, noting he was still processing the game film. The staff held additional offensive meetings later in the day to evaluate the roster. Monken expressed pride in Sanders, describing the young quarterback as composed in the pocket and effective with checkdowns.

Watson enters this week with a 5-3 record, a stat line bolstered by an NFL-high five game-winning drives. However, his efficiency metrics have lagged, with a 40.9 quarterback rating that ranked 28th among qualifying quarterbacks entering Week 9. Sanders posted a 39 rating against New Orleans, the second-highest single-game mark of his career. Monken acknowledged there was work to be done but viewed Sanders’ performance as a foundation for development.

The decision to return to Watson hinges on the team’s current standing and recent performance. Watson had not cleared concussion protocol until Saturday, which kept him inactive for the game in New Orleans. Sanders finished the game with a late field goal drive and a 39-yard touchdown to Harold Fannin Jr. in overtime. A final pass on a two-point attempt was incomplete, leaving the Browns with a one-point loss.