Latest on Shedeur Sanders as QB1 with Deshaun Watson Injured in Concussion Protocol for Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is next in line to start Sunday against the New Orleans Saints after Deshaun Watson was placed into concussion protocol.

Watson experienced symptoms the day after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced Wednesday.

The Browns said Watson was evaluated and cleared by an independent consultant after initially taking the hit in the first quarter of the 27-6 loss in Pittsburgh.

Watson experienced concussion symptoms Monday night and reported them to the team Tuesday morning, according to the Browns.

Sanders is the next man up in Cleveland, with Dillon Gabriel on track to serve as backup, if Watson is not cleared by Sunday.

Watson, who hadn't seen NFL action to 2024 prior to this fall, started all eight games for the Browns this season after winning the QB1 job over Sanders during the preseason.

He has since led the Browns to a 5-3 start that has kept the team in the running to make it out of the AFC North behind the Steelers (6-2) and Cincinnati Bengals (5-2).

Watson most recently threw for a season-high 324 passing yards but was sacked eight times in the loss to the Steelers. He currently leads the league with 33 sacks this season.

Sanders briefly entered the Week 8 matchup while Watson was being following the hit from the Steelers' Jaquan Brisker on the game's opening drive. He completed two passes before Harold Fannin Jr. lost a fumble to end the possession.

The Browns turned to Sanders in Week 11 of his rookie campaign after first starting Kirk Cousins and Dillon Gabriel. He led the Browns to three of their five wins last season and finished the run having completed 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Sanders could look to once more challenge Watson for the starting spot if he gets another chance to work with the Browns' strong receiving core against a Saints passing defense ranked among the bottom 10 in the NFL.

There is still a chance Watson could be cleared to play Sunday. The Browns have placed multiple players including KC Concepcion, Grant Delpit and Tytus Howard in concussion protocol only to clear them to play for a game days later.

Howard was most recently placed in concussion protocol after exiting a Week 7 game, then missed all practices leading up to Week 8 before he was cleared to play against the Steelers.

Whether Watson follows a similar trajectory could determine if Sanders gets his first shot at starting since Week 18 of last season when Sunday's matchup kicks off at 1 p.m. ET in New Orleans.