The Cleveland Browns placed Deshaun Watson in the NFL’s concussion protocol, putting the team’s starting quarterback in jeopardy of missing the team’s Week 9 game against the New Orleans Saints.
“During the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Steelers, Deshaun took a helmet-to-helmet hit,” the Browns statement read. “The ATC spotter called down to the sideline, and the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant (UNC) administered a gameday concussion evaluation. Deshaun was cleared by the UNC and returned on the Browns’ next offensive series.”
“As part of the protocol, the team’s medical staff evaluated him again postgame and Monday morning,” the statement continued. “Both times he showed no symptoms, passed his evaluations, and was cleared. On Tuesday morning, he reported to the medical staff that he began experiencing concussion symptoms Monday night and was immediately placed in the concussion protocol.”
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: The mascot of the Arizona Cardinals, Big Red, performs before the game against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: The mascot of the Arizona Cardinals, Big Red, performs before the game against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: New England Patriots cheerleaders perform during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium.
(David Butler II, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: San Francisco 49ers fans cheer as Brock Purdy #13 leaves the field after defeating the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.
(Steph Chambers, Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: A Seattle Seahawks fan cheers during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.
(Steph Chambers, Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson does a Lambeau Leap after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Bears, 31-7.
(Sarah Kloepping, Green Bay Press-Gazette)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: Fans look on from the stands during the game between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The game ended in a 27-27 tie.
(Patrick Smith, Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: The mascot of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jaxson de Ville, performs before the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The Jaguars won the game, 19-17.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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NFL Week 5 highlights, standout performances and reactions
Week 5: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform before the “Thursday Night Football” game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on October 8, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: Singer and songwriter Lainey Wilson dances with members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders before the “Thursday Night Football” game between the Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 4: The San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush cheerleaders take the field before a game against the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium.
(Darren Yamashita, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 4: Seattle Seahawks fans hold cutouts of quarterback Sam Darnold prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Lumen Field.
(Joe Nicholson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 4: Houston Texans mascot Toro and Superfan pose for a photo prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium.
(Thomas Shea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 4: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders perform before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Raymond James Stadium.
(Jonathan Dyer, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 4: A young fan of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before the start of the game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium.
(Tommy Gilligan, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 4: Washington Commanders mascot Major Tuddy holds a camera during the second quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
(Ron Chenoy, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 3: The Maracanã Stadium gets set to host the International Series game between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 3: The Miami Dolphins cheerleaders perform during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Sam Navarro, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 3: Corgi dog competitions take place during halftime of the game between the Detroit Lions and New York Jets at Ford Field.
(Lon Horwedel, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 3: Sports mascots compete against pee-wee football players S during halftime of the game between the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Christine Tannous, IndyStar, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 3: A fan looks on during warmups prior to the game between the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Nick Cammett, Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: Singer Taylor Swift watches the game between the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
(David Eulitt, Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: The San Francisco 49ers cheerleaders perform during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Levi’s Stadium.
(Cary Edmondson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: Denver Broncos mascot Thunder rides onto the field after a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field At Mile High.
(Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: A Miami Dolphins fan reacts during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
(Cary Edmondson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders perform during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium.
(Joe Camporeale, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: Arizona Cardinals mascot Big Red poses for a photo prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: The Baltimore Ravens mascot performs prior to the game against New Orleans Saints at M&T Bank Stadium.
(Stephen Lew, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: Fans cheer prior to the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High.
(Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
(Gregory Fisher, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
(David Eulitt, Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 1: Houston Texans cheerleaders perform during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Reliant Stadium.
(Troy Taormina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 1: New York Jets fans cheer their team against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.
(Chris Carter, Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 1: Jacksonville Jaguars mascot Jaxson de Ville leads the team on the field before the game against the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Stadium.
(Melina Myers, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 1: The Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders perform at Melbourne Cricket Ground during the NFL International Series game in Australia.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
(MARTIN KEEP, AFP via Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 1: Kim Thayil of Soundgarden and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam perform during halftime of the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at Lumen Field.
(Steph Chambers, Getty Images)
Watson has guided the Browns to a surprising 5-3 record in 2026 while completing 65.5% of his passes for 1,806 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.
If Watson can’t clear the NFL’s concussion protocol ahead of the Browns’ Week 9 game against the Saints, backup quarterback Shedeur Sanders would be expected to start.
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Sanders, a fifth-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, has played sparingly in 2026 after losing the starting job to Watson during the preseason. As a rookie, Sanders completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions while leading the Browns to a 3-4 record across seven starts.
The Browns also have 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and sixth-round rookie Taylen Green on their roster as options at the quarterback position.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
