Browns QB Watson enters concussion protocol after symptoms surfaced; Sanders could go against Saints

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson could be sidelined for Sunday's game at New Orleans after being placed in the concussion protocol.

The 10-year veteran began experiencing symptoms Monday night after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit during last week’s 27-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Watson is unable to play, Shedeur Sanders would get his first start of the season.

Sanders got his first extended practice with the starters since training camp. Coach Todd Monken indicated on Wednesday that the longer Watson remains in the protocol, the chances improve for Watson to start.

“I would say it’s a little more difficult for a quarterback than it was for, say, (offensive tackle) Tytus (Howard) last week, but we’ll let it play out," Monken said. "If you’re not able to take the team reps and the throwing reps, how do you get the timing with your receivers? I’m just saying it’s very difficult that way.”

Steelers safety Jaquan Brisker had the helmet-to-helmet hit on Watson on the third play of the game and received a roughing the passer penalty. The independent certified athletic trainer watching the game from the press box called down to the Browns sideline and Watson was given a gameday concussion evaluation and cleared by the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant.

Watson returned to the game and completed 27 of 39 passes for 324 yards, his second straight 300-yard game.

The Browns said Wednesday morning that Watson received evaluations after Sunday's game and Monday morning. He was cleared after showing no symptoms. Watson told the medical staff Tuesday morning he began experiencing symptoms Monday night when he was placed in the concussion protocol.

Sanders was in for four plays against the Steelers, and completed both of his passes for 2 yards. He started the final seven games of his rookie season last year, going 3-4 with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Sanders showed steady improvement throughout the offseason, but was unable to beat out Watson for the starting spot. Wednesday marked the first time he spoke to reporters since training camp.

“I’m comfortable when the ball’s in my hands in general. So just go in there, do what I have to do, play the long game, win everything and just be excited to get out there,” Sanders said.

Sanders also got plenty of time during the offseason to work with the starters, which is something he didn't have the luxury of doing last season, when he was thrust into the lineup after taking snaps with only the second and third teams.

“It was valuable, just tapping back into that memory bank, having those reps and everything. That’s why I’m thankful for this whole offseason and everything and just being out there with the guys each and every day, being able to still get some throws in with them. So I don’t think we lost a step,” he said.

Watson's starts in the first eight weeks is the longest in-season run he has had as the Browns starter since being acquired from Houston in 2022. He missed the first 11 games in 2022 because of a league suspension resulting from his alleged sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions before starting the final six contests. He started the first seven games in 2024 before the first of two Achilles tendon injuries.

In 2023, Watson made six starts — including the first three games — before a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 10 against Baltimore.

This season, Watson is the third quarterback since the 1970 merger to have a game-winning drive in each of his team’s first five wins. The late heroics have come despite the offense struggling most of the time.

Sunday's game could be a matchup of quarterbacks from the 2025 NFL draft class. The Saints bypassed Sanders and took Tyler Shough with the 40th overall pick. The Browns ended up trading up in the fifth round to select Sanders.

“Shedeur was a really solid draft prospect a couple years ago. We made the decision to go with Tyler,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “Shedeur had a lot of success at Colorado and his ability to throw the football and make plays. I think you’re looking at a class that has a number of players who are going to start in this league for a long time at QB.”

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) loses the ball as he is hit by Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers Patrick Queen (6) and Alex Highsmith (56) during the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament already has tested Green Bay’s Micah Parsons’ patience in a variety of ways.

Those challenges will only get tougher now that Parsons is nearing a return and realizing it may take some time for him to recapture his All-Pro form. Parsons performed individual drills in practice Wednesday in the latest step in his comeback as he gets ready to play for the first time since his Dec. 14 injury.

“My conditioning right now is probably the worst it’s been in my career,” Parsons said. “That’s just the reality of it. Am I going to go out there and play 50, 60 snaps how I was doing before? Absolutely not. It’s just not realistic. My body’s not there yet. I don’t think my knee’s built for that yet. I didn’t go through training camp.

“So, am I going to be the All-Pro Micah, the person I once was this year? Probably not until later, after I go through all my phases and things like that, but I think what people will see is they’re going to see, ‘This guy’s ready to play football and he’s going to play hard and he’s going to help boost this defense, which is already doing a great job.’ I think those type of things you won’t question.”

Parsons’ return to practice means the Packers now have 21 days before they need to activate him from the physically unable to perform list. That would put him right in line to make his season debut Nov. 25 when the Packers visit the Los Angeles Rams, though Parsons isn’t making any timetable regarding his potential return date.

“I’m not going to pinpoint a day to disappoint anyone or get people expectations that I can’t meet,” Parsons said. “I’ve got to stack 20 days, and hopefully on that 21st day I feel incredible.”

Parsons' return to practice provided a major morale boost for the Packers (5-3) as they got ready for Sunday's road game with the New England Patriots (5-3).

“We know it’ll be probably a couple weeks to get him back in the swing of things, but just to have him back out there on the practice field, to know that he’ll be coming back soon, is great,” quarterback Jordan Love said.

Parsons had 12 1/2 sacks in 13 games for the Packers last season before tearing the ACL in his left knee in a Dec. 14 loss at Denver. The Packers acquired Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys just before the start of the 2025 season and signed him to a four-year, $188 million contract with $136 million guaranteed.

Parsons’ value to the Packers is apparent from the way they performed with and without him last year. The Packers owned a 9-3-1 record and were leading the Broncos when he got hurt. They went on to lose that game and wouldn’t win again the rest of the season.

Green Bay's defense has done quite well without Parsons this year. The Packers are allowing 4.7 yards per play to rank third in the NFL. They have 2.8 sacks per game, putting them in a tie for seventh.

That defense should be even more dangerous once it has its top playmaker again. It's been a long road back for Parsons, who credited Packers director of sports medicine/head athletic trainer Nate Weir for guiding him through his recovery from an injury that included meniscus damage as well as the ACL tear.

“When I needed a fatherly figure, he was a father,” Parsons said. “When I needed a friend, he was a friend. When I needed a trainer, he was a trainer. He adapted. He grew.”

Parsons knows he's going to have to adapt as well once he gets back on the field and tries shaking off the rust.

“I think you’ll see flashes of All-Pro Micah when I get to pass rush, and there’s going to be times when you’re going to be like, ‘Dang, what was Micah doing?’ ” Parsons said. “There’s going to be times when I question myself, too. Like, what was I doing right there? I’m not ashamed of that. I’m not afraid of seeing the failure because I just came back from 11-month injury.”

NOTES: LB Zaire Franklin (shin), OL Travis Glover (knee), C Sean Rhyan (ankle) and TE Josh Whyle (concussion) didn't practice Wednesday. Franklin has missed Green Bay's last two games. Glover and Rhyan didn't play in the Packers' 27-19 win over Carolina on Thursday.

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Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons practices Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Steve Megargee) Photo taken with smartphone.

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Micah Parsons watches warm ups before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Green Bay, Wis., Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr, File)