Browns QB Deshaun Watson in concussion protocol; Shedeur Sanders may start against Saints

The Cleveland Browns placed starting quarterback Deshaun Watson in the concussion protocol after he reported symptoms that began Monday night, the team announced Wednesday. Watson has not been ruled out for Sunday's road game against the New Orleans Saints. If he cannot play, backup Shedeur Sanders would likely make his first start of the season. Watson had taken a helmet-to-helmet hit from Pittsburgh Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker during a 27-6 loss on Sunday and was cleared to return after sitting out three plays. Team medical checks after the game and Monday morning showed no symptoms. Sanders, who went 3-4 as a starter last year, said he was excited for the opportunity.

Left-leaning coverage from The Washington Post leads with the protocol placement and the possibility Sanders could start, and its excerpt does not mention the Sunday hit. Alternative outlet Newsweek centers on Sanders, quoting his comments thanking the coaching staff and saying he is excited for the opportunity, and adds that Watson missed the 2025 season while recovering from a torn Achilles. The right-leaning Daily Mail leads with the hit, calling it brutal and the loss humbling, describes Watson as scandalized, and details the cleared evaluations and the team's statement, while noting Sanders lost the training-camp battle to Watson. The Washington Times repeats the Post's headline with only a brief excerpt. All sides agree on the protocol and Sanders' likely start; they differ on whether the hit leads the story.