The Browns announced Wednesday morning that QB Deshaun Watson is in the concussion protocol. The timing of his start there makes it look unlikely that Watson will be ready to play this Sunday at New Orleans.
What They're Saying
Team statement: "During the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Steelers, Deshaun took a helmet-to-helmet hit. The ATC spotter called down to the sideline, and the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant (UNC) administered a gameday concussion evaluation. Deshaun was cleared by the UNC and returned on the Browns' next offensive series. As part of the protocol, the team's medical staff evaluated him again postgame and Monday morning. Both times he showed no symptoms, passed his evaluations, and was cleared. On Tuesday morning, he reported to the medical staff that he began experiencing concussion symptoms Monday night and was immediately placed in the concussion protocol."
(No word on whether the Eagles training staff phoned in to say Watson should go ahead and fly to London and play a game.)
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Don't Expect Much Difference
Most teams would feel the loss of the starting QB a lot more than Cleveland is likely to.
Watson has fared well enough to keep the Browns from switching to Shedeur Sanders, but he hasn't been "good."
Among 35 QBs with at least 100 dropbacks, Watson ranks:
- 24th in adjusted completion rate
- 18th in passer rating
- 14th in yards per attempt
- 30th in TD rate
- 20th in catchable-throw rate
- 26th in completion percentage over expected
- 35th in sack rate
That sack rate (11.7%) has been even higher than the 9.8% Sanders posted as a rookie. Taking too many sacks has always been an issue for Watson; that issue's only slightly smaller for Sanders, though.
Some might think this is Cleveland's opening to get back to a QB with more upside. But if you're in that camp, then you're ignoring how Sanders actually played last year.
Among 38 QBs who dropped back at least 200 times, he ranked:
- 37th in adjusted completion rate
- 38th in passer rating (behind J.J. McCarthy)
- 30th in yards per attempt
- 35th in TD rate
- 36th in catchable-throw rate
- 37th in CPOE (ahead of only teammate Dillon Gabriel)
- 34th in sack rate
Given all those numbers and the fact that HC Todd Monken has started Watson over Sanders this season, this is probably a downgrade. But we'll give Sanders some benefit of the doubt in that this year's Browns WR corps is much stronger than last year's.
The draft delivered first-rounder KC Concepcion and second-rounder Denzel Boston, who currently rank third and first on the team in targets and second and third in catches.
Ultimately, you shouldn't make any significant changes to your Week 9 Browns expectations if Sanders starts in place of Watson. The Cleveland QB remains a guy you should hope to avoid, and the pass catchers remain decent fantasy options in a non-scary matchup.
