With Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson in the concussion protocol, the door is open for Shedeur Sanders to make his first start of the season for the team on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. As Sanders prepares for the potential start with the Browns, the latest update on Watson could bring a cloud of confusion around the status of both quarterbacks.

According to team insider Mary Kay Cabot at Cleveland.com, Watson returned to practice on Friday after being absent for the past two days with the concussion. However, he is “not fully cleared” and is still in the concussion protocol, with the reporter saying that Sanders “still has a good chance to start.”

“Browns Deshaun Watson returns to practice on Friday of Saints week after missing 2 days with his concussion; Not fully cleared from the protocol yet, but that can still happen on Saturday; Shedeur Sanders still has a good chance to start,” Kay Cabot wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Browns' Todd Monken on Shedeur Sanders's preparation

Sanders has been waiting for the chance to start for the Browns since the offseason, as he was competing with Watson for the role, as it inevitably went to the veteran. Now with the chance to prove himself to Cleveland, head coach Todd Monken would reveal how Sanders has prepared, saying he has “done his work.”

“All he's done is be diligent and ask great questions. In every meeting, he's dialed in, and he's willing to talk to me about certain things or the rest of the players. During the game, he's talking to the guys. … That's why I said I'm so excited to see him today. That's what you do. Doesn't matter whoever takes the field; that represents the Cleveland Browns, there's an expectation in the position of how you're going to play, and we'll hold him to that,” Monken said Wednesday, via Kay Cabot.

#Browns Todd Monken on why he’s excited to see what Shedeur Sanders can do: pic.twitter.com/Bic3i7RWzP

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) November 4, 2026

It remains to be seen how Watson progresses up until Sunday's game against the Saints, but fans should expect Sanders to be under center as the team is 5-3, putting them third in the AFC North.