It looks like Shedeur Sanders could be quarterbacking the Cleveland Browns
when they kick off with the New Orleans Saints this Sunday. Starting quarterback Deshaun Watson entered the NFL's concussion protocol on Tuesday after taking eight sacks in Cleveland's lopsided loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, putting Sanders on top of the depth chart if Watson can't be cleared in time for Week 9's game at the Caesars Superdome.So how worried is Sanders about matching up with Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley? What has he seen from the New Orleans defense on tape? That's just one question he was asked during Wednesday's media availability.
"Um, yeah, I've seen a lot," Sanders grinned. "When I smile, just know that means… something. I'm maturing,
you know what I'm saying? I'm maturing. I could have gave that a decent answer. Now I'm just gonna smile when it's some questions, you know?"
To be fair, the Saints haven't given teams much to worry about defensively. They rank 23rd in passing yards per game allowed (233.3, 58 yards better than what Sanders averaged as a rookie) and are tied for 13th in touchdown passes given up (11, four more than Sanders threw last season). But it's not like their defense is toothless. New Orleans is also tied for the 14th-most sacks (18), with the 11th-best sacks rate (7.3%). Last year, Sanders was sacked 23 times in eight games, or 9.8% of his dropbacks.
Laughing off an upcoming opponent while talking about how maturely you're handling the question may not deliver the intended message. Sanders had a terrible rookie year in 2025, ranking 80th out of 87 qualifying quarterbacks since 2002 in passing success rate and 70th in adjusted net yards per attempt. His selection for the Pro Bowl Games brought an end to the all-star event. But if he feels like he's seen what he needs from the Saints defense to get a win, well -- he's entitled to smile about it.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Shedeur Sanders laughs off what he's seen from Saints DC Brandon Staley
