Browns' Todd Monken declines to confirm that Deshaun Watson will start over Shedeur Sanders vs. Texans

It was reported on Monday that first-year Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken planned to go back to first-choice quarterback Deshaun Watson for when 5-4 Cleveland hosts the 3-5 Houston Texans on Nov. 15. 

Second-year pro Shedeur Sanders started what became Cleveland's 23-22 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday after Watson missed practice time last week while in the NFL's concussion protocol. While speaking with reporters on Monday afternoon, Monken declined to confirm who will serve as his QB1 versus Houston. 

Todd Monken will start the quarterback who gives "us the best chance to win"

"Each week we put out the players that give us the best chance to win," Monken said, per Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram and Medina Gazette.

Watson recorded five fourth-quarter game-winning drives from Week 2 through Week 7, but he then entered the NFL's concussion protocol after he reported symptoms following Cleveland's 27-6 loss to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 1. In Sunday's defeat, Sanders completed 19-of-31 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns. 

Last week, Monken said that he "would assume" Watson would resume starting games for Cleveland once the veteran cleared the concussion protocol and was able to practice, as normal, for a game. However, the coach left the door open to start Sanders against Houston while speaking with reporters shortly after the loss to the Saints wrapped up. 

Todd Monken hadn't "thought through" his quarterback situation before Monday's news conference

"I really haven’t thought through it other than getting through this morning’s tape," Monken said about his quarterback depth chart for the Week 10 matchup, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. "We just got done meeting with the guys. They’ll flush the game, and then we’ll have a chance to meet offensively more extensively a little bit later today."

The fact that Monday's report surfaced would lead one to believe that Watson is confident he'll ultimately start against the Texans, the team that employed him from the 2017 NFL Draft through the 2021 season. Watson didn't play a down of meaningful football during his final campaign with the Texans after he requested a trade, and Houston then sent him to Cleveland in March 2022. 

The Browns could part ways with Watson following this season. 

"I'm awfully proud of him," Monken said about Sanders' performance versus the Saints, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic. "Been 10 weeks since he had reps with the [first-team offense]. I thought he battled and showed composure in the pocket. Made plays with his feet. Operation for the most part was clean. A lot there to like. Certainly a lot to clean up...a lot to build on."

As of Monday afternoon, it was unclear when Monken could identify his starting quarterback for the Houston game. At that same time, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Cleveland as a 5.5-point home underdog against the Texans.