Browns Go Back to Deshaun Watson Against Texans

Shedeur Sanders threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers in New Orleans, and it still was not enough to keep the job. The Cleveland Browns plan to start Deshaun Watson against the Houston Texans on Sunday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Monday, now that Watson is through the concussion protocol.

The stakes are simple. Cleveland is 5-4 after a 23-22 overtime loss to the Saints and is 5-3 in games Watson has started. With the Texans coming to Huntington Bank Field, the Browns are going with the quarterback who got them to this point.

Sanders Made It Close

Sanders got his first start of the season with Watson inactive and nearly stole one. He went 19 of 31 and pushed the Browns to within a two-point conversion of winning in overtime. He also took five sacks and ran 10 times for 28 yards. Todd Monken was proud of him. “For a guy that really hasn’t taken snaps with (starters) in 10 weeks, I’m really proud of him,” the coach said.

It just did not change the plan. Returning to Watson was the expected move once he was cleared, and Sanders goes back to waiting for his next chance.

Why Watson Sat

Watson entered the protocol after Cleveland’s Week 8 loss to Pittsburgh. He returned to practice on a limited basis Friday and passed his neurological tests Saturday, but with that little prep time the Browns made him inactive and went with Sanders. A normal week of practice should have him ready for Houston.

His season has been steady more than spectacular: 1,806 passing yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions, plus 217 yards on the ground. The offense around him has struggled, scoring 17.9 points per game, which ranks 29th.

Houston Brings the Heat

This is not a soft return. The Texans are 3-5 but just hung 44 points on the Chargers, and their defense leads the NFL with 29 sacks. C.J. Stroud has 16 touchdown passes against two interceptions on the other side. After Sanders went down five times on Sunday, the protection plan is the first thing Cleveland has to fix.

Smacktok pick lean: Lean higher on Deshaun Watson rushing yards against Houston. He has 217 on the ground already, and the league’s top sack team will force him off his spot, which is when he takes off. If Watson has a setback in practice and Sanders starts again, flip to Sanders passing yards after his 297 against the Saints.