The Cleveland Browns are reportedly rolling with Deshaun Watson at quarterback for their Week 10 clash against the Houston Texans, a move that comes even after Shedeur Sanders delivered a straight-up productive performance in Sunday’s overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirmed that once Watson cleared concussion protocol, returning him to the starting role was always the plan, with Sanders’ start being a fill-in gig. Talk about a tough break for a guy who just played his heart out!
Sanders Showed Out, But It Wasn’t Enough For The Win
Let’s be real, Sanders put on a show. The kid completed 19 of 31 passes for 297 yards, tossed two touchdowns, and, crucially, kept the ball clean with zero interceptions against New Orleans. His 114.6 passer rating is legit, and he dropped some explosive passing plays despite eating five sacks. You love to see a young QB stand tall. We’re talking about a 64-yard bomb to KC Concepcion and a 39-yard score to Harold Fannin Jr. in overtime. But man, the football gods are cruel sometimes. Cleveland went for the two-point conversion after Fannin’s touchdown, the pass fell incomplete, and they lost 23-22. A gut punch, for sure. That performance definitely gave Cleveland something to think about, but the report says it didn’t change the immediate plan at all. Sanders got his shot because Watson was out, not because it was a permanent change.
Watson’s Return and the AFC North Pressure Cooker
Watson is back after clearing concussion protocol Saturday, though he remained inactive against New Orleans. Browns coach Todd Monken had tapped Sanders after Watson missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, only getting limited work Friday. This distinction is key: Sanders wasn’t benching Watson, he was filling in. Now Watson, who started Cleveland’s first eight games, gets back in the driver’s seat. The Browns desperately need a win, sitting at 5-4 after that tough loss, and they’re staring down a two-game losing streak. They’ve gotta keep their spot in the AFC playoff race, especially with the 4-5 Baltimore Ravens breathing down their neck, just one win behind in the AFC North. This Week 10 matchup also brings a familiar face for Watson, who started his NFL career with the Texans before Cleveland acquired him in 2022. It’s a storyline begging for some fireworks.
This decision from Cleveland only adds more drama to an already wild AFC North race. Both the Browns and the Ravens, who are coming off their own 33-10 defeat to Jacksonville, are trying to stabilize their seasons before things get really dicey. Watson’s return against his former team in a must-win game? Yeah, this one is gonna be worth watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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