Browns QB Deshaun Watson Placed In Concussion Protocol

“During the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Steelers, Deshaun took a helmet-to-helmet hit,” the Browns stated. “The ATC spotter called down to the sideline, and the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant (UNC) administered a gameday concussion evaluation. Deshaun was cleared by the UNC and returned on the Browns’ next offensive series.”

The Browns added that Watson didn’t exhibit any concussion symptoms when they evaluated him after their 27-6 loss to Pittsburgh and again on Monday morning. However, Watson informed the team’s medical staff on Tuesday morning that he began dealing with symptoms on Monday night. He will have to clear the protocol by Saturday in order to play this week. Otherwise, Sanders will make his first start of the season and the eighth of his two-year career.

Entering this season, Watson hadn’t played since he tore his Achilles in a loss to the Bengals on Oct. 20, 2024. Watson ruptured it again during rehab, forcing him to miss all of last season. Despite Watson’s lengthy layoff and the disappointing play that preceded it from 2022-24, the 31-year-old managed to beat out Sanders for the starting job during the summer.

The Watson-led Browns have gotten off to a surprising 5-3 start and are in the playoff picture at the midpoint, but it remains to be seen if that’s sustainable. While Watson has put up decent numbers (65.5 completion percentage, 7.3 yards per attempt, seven touchdowns against three interceptions, and a 91.2 rating), he is no longer the Pro Bowl-caliber starter he was in Houston from 2017-20.

Watson stayed with the Texans through 2021, but he sat out the season amid a contract dispute and dozens of allegations of sexual assault or misconduct. Nevertheless, the Browns traded a package including three first-round picks for Watson in March 2022 and then handed him a fully guaranteed $230MM contract. Watson is now in the last season of the five-year deal, but the Browns have restructured it six times and created void years from 2027-29.

Although Watson’s tenure in Cleveland has not gone well, there is reportedly a chance the team will re-sign him next year. Of course, that will depend in large part on how he finishes this season. In the meantime, a potential absence this week would at least temporarily open the door for Sanders. Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green are the Browns’ other healthy options at the position.