One week ago, nobody in Cleveland was debating the quarterback job. Deshaun Watson had the Browns at 5-3, and Shedeur Sanders had thrown three passes all season.
Now Todd Monken has a real decision to make.
Sanders made his first start of the year on Sunday in New Orleans and nearly pulled off a wild overtime win. He threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover, led a game-tying drive in the final minute and then a touchdown drive in overtime. The Browns still lost 23-22 when a 2-point try failed on the final play. But the Shedeur Sanders debate is officially back on, with Watson cleared from the concussion protocol and the Houston Texans coming to town on Sunday.
How Sanders got the start
Watson took a hard hit in a loss at Pittsburgh in Week 8 and reported concussion symptoms the following Tuesday. He missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, returned in a limited role Friday, and didn’t take any team reps all week.
That’s why Monken named Sanders the starter on Friday. Watson cleared the protocol Saturday, but the Browns made him inactive anyway and used Dillon Gabriel as the backup. That decision drew criticism, including from two-time Super Bowl champion Asante Samuel, and a few fans floated the idea of a “soft benching.” The timeline doesn’t really support that theory, though. Monken had already chosen Sanders before Watson was cleared.
Before the week was out, Monken also said he expected Watson to reclaim the job once healthy. That’s the part that Sunday’s game complicated.
What Sanders did in New Orleans
The first half was quiet. Sanders threw for just 38 yards before halftime as Cleveland’s offense stalled, and two trips inside the 10 ended with sacks and only three points.
The second half was a different story. Sanders hit a 60-yard jump ball to Denzel Boston and a short pass that KC Concepcion Jr. turned into a 64-yard touchdown. Then, trailing 16-13 with 58 seconds left, he drove the Browns into range for Andre Szmyt’s game-tying 51-yard field goal. The key play was a 30-yard throw to Jerry Jeudy that Sanders delivered while Chase Young was hitting him.
In overtime, after the Saints scored first, he led a 67-yard touchdown drive capped by Harold Fannin Jr.’s 39-yard catch-and-run. Monken went for 2 and the win, and Sanders’ pass fell incomplete. Our full Saints-Browns recap has every turn of that finish.
| Shedeur Sanders vs. Saints | Total |
|---|---|
| Completions/attempts | 19-of-31 |
| Passing yards | 297 |
| Touchdowns | 2 |
| Turnovers | 0 |
| Passer rating | 114.6 |
| Sacks taken | 5 |
| Rushing | 10 carries, 28 yards |
According to BrownsZone, Sanders was 3-for-3 on deep throws for 154 yards and a touchdown. He also used his legs, picking up an 11-yard run for a first down.
What Monken said, and what he didn’t
Monken wouldn’t commit to anything after the game. Asked about the quarterback situation, he said he wasn’t getting into it.
He did praise Sanders. “He gave us a chance at the end,” Monken said, adding that Sanders made plays with his legs to extend drives and move the chains. ESPN described Monken as proud of Sanders while sidestepping questions about who starts next week.
The case for Watson
Watson has done enough to earn the benefit of the doubt. Before the concussion, he had completed 163 of 249 passes for 1,806 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. More important, he led the Browns to a 5-3 start that surprised most of the league, with five fourth-quarter game-winning drives along the way.
He’s also had a full week to recover now, and his next opponent is his former team. Scott Petrak of BrownsZone argued that Watson should get the start against Houston, while adding that Monken shouldn’t have much patience if Watson struggles for a game or two.
Watson is 31 and in the final year of his contract, which adds another layer to whatever Cleveland decides.
The case for Sanders
Sanders’ argument is simple: he played well with the job on the line. He didn’t turn the ball over, he made the biggest throws in the biggest moments, and the offense came alive late when Cleveland needed it most.
There’s also the long view. Sanders started the final seven games of his rookie season in 2025, going 3-4 with 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Monken has said Sanders improved his footwork, his drops and how quickly he works through progressions. A team thinking about its future at quarterback has reasons to want to see more.
The concern is the first half. Thirty-eight yards before the break, and five sacks overall, show how much of Sunday came together in the last 20 minutes.
What’s at stake against Houston
The Browns have now lost two straight for the first time this season and sit at 5-4. Houston comes to Cleveland at 3-5 but fresh off a 44-22 rout of the Chargers in which C.J. Stroud threw for 384 yards and five touchdowns, and the Texans sacked Justin Herbert eight times.
That pass rush is a real test for either quarterback. And after this game, Cleveland goes into its bye, which makes Sunday the last chance to settle the position before the second half of the season.
Fantasy angle
Sanders was one of the top fantasy quarterbacks of Week 9, but his value depends entirely on Monken’s call. We listed him in our Week 10 waiver wire pickups as a speculative add only for managers who can afford to wait. If Watson is named the starter, Sanders goes back to the bench in most leagues.
What’s next for Shedeur Sanders and the Browns
Monken is expected to speak with reporters again this week, and the quarterback question will be the first one he hears.
If Watson gets the job back, the spotlight will be on how long his leash is. If Sanders keeps it, the Browns are making a statement about where they’re headed. Either way, Sunday’s game against Houston just became one of the most talked-about Week 10 matchups in the AFC.
FieldPylon will update this story when Monken names his starter.
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