The Cleveland Browns are turning to Shedeur Sanders for their Week 9 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, giving the second-year quarterback his first start of the 2026 season. Head coach Todd Monken announced the decision Friday after Deshaun Watson missed team repetitions throughout the practice week while dealing with a concussion. Watson has cleared concussion protocol Saturday and will travel to New Orleans, but Sanders remains the starter.
Elsewhere, defensive tackle Maliek Collins is the only player listed as out on the supplied injury report. Several other Browns finished the week with improved participation, offering some encouragement around a team preparing for a change under center.
Shedeur Sanders gets his opportunity against New Orleans
Sanders’ promotion follows a week in which Watson could not participate in the full offensive preparation. Watson missed Wednesday and Thursday before returning for limited work Friday. Monken said the veteran could handle individual drills but was unable to take team reps, leaving Sanders to prepare for the starting assignment.
Watson’s concussion followed a helmet-to-helmet hit during Cleveland’s Week 8 loss to Pittsburgh. He initially passed evaluations and returned to the game, but subsequently reported symptoms that developed Monday night. His clearance Saturday changes his medical availability, not Cleveland’s announced starting plan.
For Sanders, Sunday represents an opportunity to show progress after spending the first eight weeks as Watson’s backup. He briefly replaced Watson against Pittsburgh, completing both attempts for two yards, but the Saints matchup will provide a substantially larger test of his command of the offense.
The assignment is not unfamiliar territory. Sanders made seven starts during his rookie season, finishing with a 3-4 record as a starter. That experience gives him a foundation, although this will be his first start of the current campaign.
Cleveland’s offensive challenge is straightforward: build sustained possessions without asking Sanders to rescue every series. Protection, manageable down-and-distance situations and reliable receiving options become especially important when a backup moves into the starting role.
Browns injury report: Maliek Collins out, others improve
Collins will miss the Saints game with an elbow injury after recording no practice participation throughout the week. His absence removes an established contributor from the interior defensive line and forces Cleveland to redistribute those snaps.
Final injury report for Saints-Browns. pic.twitter.com/otFQyUs6bc
— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) November 6, 2026
The offensive line received better news. Tackle Austin Barber progressed from not practicing Wednesday to limited work Thursday and full participation Friday. Center/guard Elgton Jenkins moved from limited participation to consecutive full sessions. Neither carries a game designation on the supplied report.
Wide receiver Denzel Boston also finished with a full Friday practice after two limited sessions because of a calf injury. His availability provides Sanders with a receiver who has recorded 26 catches for 409 yards and three touchdowns through eight games.
Defensively, cornerback Myles Harden and defensive end Jared Verse finished with consecutive full practices. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger advanced to full participation Friday despite wrist and ankle injuries. Quincy Williams remained limited Thursday and Friday with a hamstring issue but received no game designation.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren were limited Wednesday and Thursday with groin and hip injuries, respectively. Their Friday participation entries are absent from the supplied report, and neither has a listed game designation. Those blanks should not be interpreted as confirmed missed practices.