The Cleveland Browns are synonymous with quarterback drama, and their yearly dose of QB chaos could be on deck after a recent development. Veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson has started for Cleveland all season, but the team recently announced that the veteran was placed in concussion protocol on Tuesday.
That gives Watson a very slim chance to play on Sunday, making it likely that Shedeur Sanders starts in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints. While it isn’t even official yet that Sanders will start the upcoming game, people are already thinking about the possible fallout if Sanders plays well on Sunday.
Of course, Browns head coach Todd Monken was asked about that on Wednesday when he addressed the media. The first-year head coach was asked specifically if Watson will remain the starter once he’s healthy, and Monken quickly brushed off the possibility of the alternative.
"Yeah, I didn’t assume I’d get that question," Monken said. "Yeah, he’s been our starter for eight games. I would assume he’s still our starter. I don’t... I’m thinking about Wednesday. But I’m not... I’m really thinking about today and watching Shedeur play [in practice] today."
That’s exactly what Monken is supposed to say, but he’s not naive. He knows that if Sanders gets the nod on Sunday and lights it up, Cleveland will have a quarterback controversy on its hands.
Shedeur Sanders could make things complicated for the Browns with a strong performance on Sunday
Cleveland is 5-3 with Watson starting this season, and while he has had some clutch game-winning drives, neither he nor the Browns offense have been consistent. Cleveland is averaging just 301.9 yards per game (24th in the league) and 17.4 points per game (29th).
In other words, Watson hasn’t really been lighting it up to the point where his job should be secure regardless of what happens Sunday.
If Sanders goes out and dominates against a vulnerable Saints defense, there will certainly be calls for him to remain in the lineup. Whether Monken and the Browns agree with those calls will be a different part of the equation. Cleveland could stick with Sanders — like it did when he started in place of an injured Dillon Gabriel last season — or the franchise could just applaud him for doing a good job filling in and turn right back to Watson.
If the latter happens, things will get extremely loud for the Browns, and Watson would be under immense scrutiny. Every bad play from the quarterback or stalled offensive drive would automatically result in everyone calling for him to be replaced by Sanders.
Monken is ignoring the possibility of that outcome, instead focusing on getting Sanders and the Browns ready to play a good game on Sunday. If the head coach is successful in that endeavor, he will then have to make a tough decision.
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