Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken has not yet decided whether Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders will start at quarterback in Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.
Watson led the Browns to a 5-3 start before a head injury sidelined him for the overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints. Sanders, making his first start of the season, completed 19 of 31 passes for 297 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a career-high 114.6 passer rating.
Despite ESPN reporting the Browns plan to return to Watson, Monken said he had not thought through the decision beyond reviewing Monday's tape. He emphasized putting the best players on the field each week to win.
Watson, 31, returned to practice last Friday as a limited participant after being sacked eight times in a Week 8 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He briefly left that game after a hit from Steelers defensive back Jaquan Brisker.
Sanders, a 2025 fifth-round pick, had attempted only three passes in the first eight games. Last season he made seven starts, going 3-4 with a 56.6% completion rate, seven touchdowns, and ten interceptions. Monken praised Sanders' composure and playmaking but noted areas to clean up.
If Watson starts, it would be his first against his former team, which traded him to Cleveland in 2022 for three first-round picks. Watson has engineered five game-winning drives this season, second only to Bo Nix's six. The Browns sit third in the AFC North behind Pittsburgh (6-2) and Cincinnati (5-2).
