Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Gets Response From Saints Defense

Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Gets Response From Saints Defense

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andrew Hughes | Last updated Nov 6, 2026 5:53 PM ET

Shedeur Sanders let a smile do most of the talking this week. Asked Wednesday whether he had studied the New Orleans Saints defense, the Cleveland Browns quarterback told reporters, “Yeah I seen a lot, when I smile just know that means something. I’m maturing, you know what I’m saying, I’m maturing.”

The Saints heard every word of it. Edge rusher Carl Granderson answered Friday in comments shared by Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com: “They’ve been chirping a little bit. We see what the quarterback said. … It’s going to be a good game for sure.” Sanders makes his first start of 2026 on Sunday.

Carl Granderson leads the Saints’ pass rush

Oct 25, 2026; Paris, FRA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) is sacked by New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young (99) and defensive end Carl Granderson (96) during the third quarter at Stade de France. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Granderson isn’t a random voice. He has 5.5 sacks in six games, and his 75.6 PFF overall grade ranks 22nd among 111 edge defenders. He and Chase Young carry a front that needs the pass rush to show up, because the 2-5 Saints have allowed 27.7 points per game.

Kellen Moore promised to evaluate everything during the bye, so New Orleans has had two weeks to study Sanders, too. Sunday is the Saints’ first game since a 16-10 loss to the Steelers in Paris.

Sacks are where this matchup could turn. By our count of his ESPN numbers, Sanders took 23 sacks on 235 dropbacks across eight games in 2025, roughly one every 10 times he went back to pass. Cleveland’s line also gave up eight sacks in the 27-6 loss at Pittsburgh, the game that put Deshaun Watson in the concussion protocol.

Sanders has thrown three passes this season since losing the starting job to Watson in August. The 5-3 Browns, who have won five games by narrow margins, need him to back up the smile in a Superdome crowd that will be waiting to hear from him.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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