Browns Stand Behind Backup QB Shedeur Sanders Amid Trade Rumor Frenzy

It’s been a whirlwind around Cleveland’s quarterback room this season. Deshaun Watson has been the clear starter, but injuries and protocol have forced the coaching staff to look deeper.

On Friday, Nov. 6, the Browns announced that backup Shedeur Sanders would take the helm in Week 9 versus the New Orleans Saints. The decision came after weeks of speculation about who would replace Watson when he entered concussion protocol.

Head coach Todd Monken sounded almost proud when he talked about Sanders’ progress. “He’s diligent, he loves the game, and he’s got that natural confidence,” Monken said. He added that the young quarterback’s footwork, dropbacks and overall mechanics have improved, and that his sense of urgency on the field is finally clicking.

Sanders isn’t a complete stranger to starting duties. At the tail end of the 2025 season he threw 11‑for‑22 for 111 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions, finishing the year with 1,400 passing yards, seven TDs and ten picks. This season, though, he’s barely been in the stats sheet – only three pass attempts when Watson briefly left the game.

Some fans wondered if the Browns were using the start as a showcase to increase his trade value. NFL insider Jeremy Fowler put those rumors to rest on X, writing, “One thing to keep in mind: this is not a trade showcase. The Browns have no plans to deal Sanders at the deadline.”

That doesn’t mean the roster is static. Second‑year Dillon Gabriel is still hunting for a chance to prove himself, and rookie Taylen Green offers an athletic spark that the coaching staff might test later in the season.

For now, all eyes are on Sanders as he steps onto the field at the Caesars Superdome. The Browns sit at 6‑3, and a solid performance could keep him in the conversation for a longer‑term role, perhaps even as the franchise quarterback one day.