Shedeur Sanders Faces Browns Doubts Before Saints Start

WHO:

Sportskeeda - Shedeur Sanders is a Cleveland Browns quarterback who may start against the New Orleans Saints.

Heavy NFL - Sanders is preparing for his first start of the season.

Heavy NFL - Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy commented on Sanders’s potential as the team’s starting quarterback.

Sportskeeda - Deshaun Watson is working through the concussion protocol.

Draft Sharks - Browns head coach Todd Monken announced Sanders as the starter for the game against the Saints.

Sportskeeda - Colin Cowherd had previously said Sanders “needed to grow up,” then said he was “a little too silly to me.”

Pro Football Network - Writer David Ubben warned Sanders about copying Deion Sanders’s approach to media.

Sportskeeda - An analyst criticized Sanders after an interview, saying, “Shedeur Sanders is going to be homeless pretty soon.” The article excerpt does not identify the analyst.

Sportskeeda - NFL fans criticized Sanders after an interview, with reactions including “Kid has no media PR training” and “Most unlikable QB.”

WHAT:

clevelandbrowns.com - Sanders took first-team reps throughout the week and appeared in two games during the 2026 season: he completed one pass against Carolina in Week 3 and two passes for two yards against Pittsburgh in Week 8.

clevelandbrowns.com - Watson was officially listed as questionable. He did not practice Wednesday or Thursday and returned for limited practice Friday.

clevelandbrowns.com - Watson entered the concussion protocol after reporting symptoms to team medical staff; he had taken a helmet-to-helmet hit against Pittsburgh, was cleared to return to that game, and was cleared Monday morning after another evaluation.

clevelandbrowns.com - Sanders completed extra post-practice reps with the “Hungry Dawgs” group and stayed involved in meetings and sideline discussions with quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian and Watson.

Draft Sharks - Sanders will start for the Browns against the Saints in Week 9.

Sportskeeda - Sanders is in line to make his first start of the 2026 season.

Heavy NFL - The Browns added a key playmaker to the injury report ahead of Sanders’s start; the excerpt does not name the player.

Sportskeeda - The Browns may need Sanders to start at quarterback against New Orleans.

Pro Football Network - Ubben cautioned that imitating Deion Sanders’s media approach could create long-term problems for Shedeur Sanders.

WHERE:

Sportskeeda - The Browns’ game against the Saints is in New Orleans.

WHEN:

Sportskeeda - The game is scheduled for Sunday; the excerpt does not provide a calendar date.

Draft Sharks - Monken announced Sanders’s start on Friday; the excerpt does not provide a calendar date.

Draft Sharks - The game is identified as Week 9.

WHY:

clevelandbrowns.com - Head coach Todd Monken said Watson could not participate in team reps during the week, so the team chose Sanders to start.

clevelandbrowns.com - Monken praised Sanders’s confidence, comfort operating the huddle, and throwing, and said Sanders had improved his footwork, drops, mechanics, decisions, progressions, and protections.

Sportskeeda - Watson is working through the concussion protocol as Sanders prepares to start.

Heavy NFL - The Browns’ addition of a key playmaker to the injury report was reported ahead of Sanders’s start; the excerpt does not state how it affects the team.

HOW:

Draft Sharks - Monken confirmed Sanders’s starting role in an announcement on Friday.

Sportskeeda - Sanders’s interview prompted criticism from an analyst and NFL fans.

Shedeur Sanders will make his first seasonal start for Cleveland against New Orleans. Deshaun Watson’s concussion protocol and limited practice led coach Todd Monken to choose Sanders. Monken praised Sanders’s progress, confidence, and command of the huddle.