Shedeur Sanders Could Be In Line for First NFL Start This Season

The Cleveland Browns may be without Deshaun Watson this weekend, which means that Shedeur Sanders might finally have his chance to step up. The team announced that Watson is in concussion protocol after suffering a pretty hard head hit during Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

As noted by Nick Camino, that means that Sanders might be called upon to take the field for Cleveland’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

“If Watson can’t go, Shedeur Sanders could be in line to start in New Orleans for the #Browns,” Camino wrote.

If Watson can’t go, Shedeur Sanders could be in line to start in New Orleans for the #Browns. https://t.co/y5zoN9xfma

— Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWKYC) November 4, 2026

So far this season, Sanders hasn’t spent much time on the field. He has appeared in just two games, going three for three on his attempts. Of course, last season he played in eight games, started in seven of them, and completed 120 of his 212 attempts for a total of 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns.

Throughout the offseason, it sounded like the battle to be QB1 was between Sanders and Watson, and a lot of people believed that Sanders would come out on top. Watson was too old, with too many injuries, controversies, and too large a contract.

However, head coach Todd Monken eventually chose to use Watson as the team’s starting quarterback, with the promise that Sanders was still a vital part of the team. Since then, fans have assumed that Sanders would take on the top role if Watson got injured. That time has come.

If Sanders is in fact chosen to be the team’s starter during Watson’s absence, it could be a huge move for him and the future of his career. It could prove that he is ready and able to lead this team – or a different one. If things don’t go well, however, it could create more rumors about him leaving Cleveland.

And if Monken and his staff decide that perhaps Dillon Gabriel deserves minutes instead of Sanders, that would create a brand new firestorm of controversy and questions.