Browns coach Monken leaves QB decision open after Watson cleared

Shedeur Sanders completed 19 of 31 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns in his first start of the season. The performance occurred during Cleveland's 23-22 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The result leaves the Browns at 5-4 with their first consecutive defeats of the year.

The Browns entered the week with a clear quarterback option. Deshaun Watson was removed from the concussion protocol. However, Head Coach Todd Monken declined to announce a starter on Monday. He cited a need to review the game footage with his offensive staff before making a final call.

Monken stated that the decision would be made week to week. He emphasized that the goal is to field the best available personnel to win. "It's week to week. A player doesn't lose or win a job .. I don't know what that means," Monken said regarding the impact of injuries on starting roles.

The coaching staff noted specific moments where Sanders showed development. Monken pointed to late-game plays where Sanders moved the ball effectively. "There were moments at the end of the game where he made plays," Monken said. "He got it in the players’ hands and did a really good job."

The game ended with a failed two-point conversion for Cleveland. Sanders was pressured on the play and threw incomplete to Denzel Boston. A holding penalty on right tackle Tytus Howard would have nullified the play even if Boston caught the ball. Monken said the Saints disrupted the Browns at the line of scrimmage.

The Browns have played only three home games in the first nine weeks of the season. They are 3-0 in those contests. The team faces a home-heavy schedule for the next five weeks, including their bye week. Their next road trip is not until December 19 against the New York Giants.

Monken used the practice session to emphasize the schedule's difficulty. "We made it through a pretty damn hard grind of having six of your first nine on the road," he said. He noted that the team is 3-0 at home and has four more home games scheduled immediately following their bye.

Wide receiver Denzel Boston and rookie KC Concepcion combined for 183 receiving yards. Boston had six catches for 98 yards, while Concepcion had four receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. The pair became the first rookie wide receiver duo to both gain at least 85 yards in a single game since 2015.

The Browns will host the Houston Texans on Sunday. Watson previously played against Houston in 2022 when he debuted for Cleveland. In that game, he completed 12 of 22 passes for 131 yards in a 27-14 win. Monken said the team left New Orleans without any significant injuries.

Andre Szmyt made his seventh consecutive field goal from 50 yards or more. The Browns allowed opponents to score on the opening possession in all but one game this season. They have given up 41 points on first drives, a total tied for the worst in the league.