Browns Finally Turn to Shedeur Sanders as Deshaun Watson Sits
Todd Monken: "I'm fired up to see him play."
The are finally handing the keys to , though it took a medical protocol to make it happen. Head coach Todd Monken officially named the starter for this week's matchup against the , with Deshaun Watson still working his way back from a concussion.
Monken claims he is "fired up" to see play, which is coach-speak for being thrilled he doesn't have to answer another press conference question about his $230 million quarterback's struggles. For a fanbase that was already booing Watson during preseason introductions, this lineup change feels less like an injury replacement and more like a long-awaited release valve.
The context here is as bleak as you would expect for . The Browns are coming off an absolutely brutal 27-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, an offensive performance so lifeless it should have come with a chalk outline. Watson's tenure has been defined by a fully guaranteed contract that looks worse by the day and a string of injuries, including back-to-back Achilles tears in 2024 and 2025 that derailed his career trajectory.
Now steps into the spotlight on November 8 against the Saints. We saw flashes of his potential during the preseason, but taking meaningful regular-season snaps behind this offensive line is a completely different sport. The betting markets will undoubtedly scramble to adjust the lines for this game, trying to calculate whether a young quarterback with upside is worth more points than a highly paid veteran who has looked completely disconnected from the offense.
If goes out in and actually moves the chains, the are going to have a massive problem on their hands. You cannot put the genie back in the bottle once the fans see a functional offense, meaning Watson's eventual clearance from concussion protocol might just be the start of 's real headache.