In a surprising twist, the Cleveland Browns placed quarterback Deshaun Watson in concussion protocol on Wednesday morning.
Watson went down in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and was immediately evaluated for a concussion. The evaluation, as with all teams, was done by independent doctors on the sideline in their blue medical tent. Watson came out of the game for a short time but showed no symptoms and was cleared to go back in.
Per the team's statement on Wednesday, Nov. 4, Watson began experiencing symptoms days later.
They shared, " During the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Steelers, Deshaun Watson took a helmet-to-helmet hit. The ATC spotter called down to the sideline, and the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma
Consultant (UNC) administered a gameday concussion evaluation. Deshaun was cleared by the UNC and returned on the Browns' next offensive series. As part of the protocol, the team's medical staff evaluated him again postgame and Monday morning. Both times he showed no symptoms, passed his evaluations, and was cleared. On Tuesday morning, he reported to the medical staff that he began experiencing concussion symptoms Monday night and was immediately placed in the concussion protocol."
Watson would have until Saturday to clear the protocol; otherwise, it would be Shedeur Sanders starting for the first time in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns' Deshaun Watson enters concussion protocol ahead of Week 9
