{
  "id": 18139156,
  "title": "Browns Place Deshaun Watson in Concussion Protocol Before Week 9 Game vs Saints",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/browns-place-deshaun-watson-in-concussion-protocol-before-week-9-game",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-04T15:31:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/browns-place-deshaun-watson-in-concussion-protocol-before-week-9-game-vs-saints-12664168"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Cleveland Browns placed quarterback Deshaun Watson in the NFL's concussion protocol prior to their Week 9 game against the New Orleans Saints. This decision casts uncertainty over Watson's availability for the matchup. Watson suffered a helmet-to-helmet hit during a Week 8 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but an independent neurotrauma consultant deemed him fit to return during the next play. Despite showing no visible signs of concussion after the initial evaluation and on Monday, Watson admitted to experiencing symptoms on Tuesday. The Browns announced on Wednesday that they had immediately placed him in the concussion protocol, making it improbable that Watson will clear the protocol in time to participate in the Sunday game. Should Watson be sidelined, rookie Shedeur Sanders would likely take over as the starting quarterback. The Browns currently sit one game behind the Steelers in the AFC North, boasting a 5-3 record. Watson, who won the starting quarterback position despite previously rupturing his Achilles tendon twice, has outperformed expectations thus far, recording a passing accuracy of 65.5% and a 91.2 quarterback rating, both his best figures since joining the team in 2022. He has orchestrated five game-winning drives and three fourth-quarter comebacks in the first half of the season. Watson has also thrown for over 300 yards in the last two games, a feat he hadn't achieved since 2020. Shedeur Sanders is next in line to start if Watson is unable to play this weekend. Dillon Gabriel, the fifth-round pick, returned from the injured reserve and served as Cleveland's emergency third-string quarterback in Week 8.",
  "summary": "The Cleveland Browns placed Deshaun Watson in the concussion protocol after the quarterback reported symptoms on Tuesday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}