The Cleveland Browns are going back to Deshaun Watson. Watson will start Sunday against the Houston Texans, his former team, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirmed Wednesday morning, citing the Browns.
Watson is indeed the starter this week, per the Browns. https://t.co/0Wceg8votm
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) November 11, 2026
Fowler first reported on Monday that Cleveland planned to turn back to Watson. Coach Todd Monken declined to name a starter later that day, NBC Sports noted, which kept the debate alive for another 48 hours. The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot also confirmed Watson as the starter on Wednesday, per RotoWire.
Why the Browns picked Watson over Shedeur Sanders
Watson won the job in August after a long camp competition with Shedeur Sanders, and Monken said last week he planned to go back to Watson once he was healthy, according to BrownsZone’s Scott Petrak.
Watson’s numbers back that up. He started the first eight games and led Cleveland to a 5-3 record, completing 65.5% of his passes for 1,806 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions, per Bleacher Report. He has also run for 217 yards and a score.
He missed Week 9 after entering the concussion protocol, and Sanders started in his place.
Sanders made it a tough call
Sanders gave the Browns plenty to think about. He threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns in the 23-22 overtime loss at New Orleans, a game Cleveland lost on a failed two-point try. Our Saints-Browns recap has the full story, and our Browns QB decision story laid out both sides.
As a rookie in 2025, Sanders went 3-4 as a starter with seven touchdown passes and 10 interceptions, Bleacher Report noted.
Watson vs. his old team
Sunday’s game carries extra weight for Watson. He played his first four NFL seasons in Houston, and this will be only his second start against the Texans since the trade to Cleveland before the 2022 season, according to Bleacher Report.
It also comes in the final year of his $250 million fully guaranteed contract, Fox News noted.
The matchup up front is a concern. Cleveland has allowed a league-high 38 sacks, ESPN’s Pamela Maldonado pointed out, as reported by Yardbarker, and Houston brings a disruptive pass rush.
The Browns (5-4) host the Texans (3-5) at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. For every other team with a new starter this week, see our Week 10 QB changes, and for every kickoff, check our Week 10 schedule.
Sources: NBC Sports, RotoWire, BrownsZone, Bleacher Report, Fox News, Yardbarker, ESPN
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