The Cleveland Browns placed starting quarterback Deshaun Watson in concussion protocol on Tuesday, making it extremely unlikely that he will play in the team’s Week 9 game on Sunday. That means Cleveland will likely turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders for the team’s road game against the New Orleans Saints.
While there will obviously be a lot of talk about the quarterback position, inserting Sanders into the lineup could result in some other changes. One of those changes could be an increase in both snaps and production for second-year wide receiver Isaiah Bond.
Bond has played sparingly and has contributed very little when he has been in the lineup this season. However, because of his strong connection with Shedeur Sanders, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he had his number called more than usual on Sunday.
Browns could lean on Shedeur Sanders’ connection with Isaiah Bond in Week 9
In 2026, Bond has played just 19% of Cleveland’s offensive snaps. In those opportunities, he has been targeted just nine times, catching five passes for 86 yards.
The one game where he had a real chance to contribute was in Week 5, when he stepped in for an injured KC Concepcion. Bond was targeted seven times in that game, but multiple drops in the rainy weather led to him only catching three passes for 74 yards.
Last season, though, Bond played 49% of the Browns’ offensive snaps as an undrafted rookie and was much more productive. He caught 18 passes for 338 yards, showing off his ability as a deep threat. This is all relevant this week because most of that production came when Shedeur Sanders was at quarterback.
In Sanders’ seven starts in 2025, Bond caught seven passes for 215 yards, posting an explosive 30.7 yards per reception. Additionally, with both players starting this season on the second-team offense, it’s fair to assume that they have continued to build on their rapport. This could all lead to more snaps for Bond on Sunday as the Browns try to get Sanders comfortable.
What's going to make Sanders most comfortable is syncing back up with Harold Fannin Jr., who he connected a lot with last season, as well as rookie receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. Those are the top weapons in Cleveland’s offense, and they will likely be the go-to guys on Sunday.
But Isaiah Bond could be rotated in more since Sanders knows how to get him the ball.
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