Deshaun Watson is in the NFL’s concussion protocol, and Shedeur Sanders is next in line to start for the 5-3 Cleveland Browns on Sunday at the New Orleans Saints. The Browns announced the move Wednesday morning, and two more injury stories broke across the league within hours: Jets receiver Garrett Wilson is also in the protocol, and Green Bay pass rusher Micah Parsons is slated to practice for the first time since December.
Deshaun Watson has been placed in concussion protocol
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 4, 2026
Watson’s symptoms came on Monday night
Watson took a helmet-to-helmet hit in the first quarter of Sunday’s 27-6 loss in Pittsburgh. The Browns said a spotter called down to the sideline, an independent neurotrauma consultant examined him, and he was cleared to return on the next offensive series. He was evaluated again after the game and on Monday morning, passed both times and was cleared. Then, in the team’s words, “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 finished that game with 324 passing yards, no touchdowns and eight sacks. He cannot return to practice or play until he clears every step of the league’s protocol, including a sign-off from an independent neurological consultant. Ian Rapoport wrote that Sanders “could make his first start of the season,” and Schefter reported that Sanders is next in line against the Saints. Our Week 8 recap of the Browns-Steelers game has the sack-by-sack picture.
What a Sanders start would mean
Sanders, a second-year quarterback, lost the summer competition when Watson was named the starter on Aug. 24, and he has taken only a handful of snaps this season. As a rookie he started seven games and threw seven touchdown passes with 10 interceptions. Cleveland is 5-3 and visits a Saints team that is 2-5, with a 1 p.m. ET kickoff. Dillon Gabriel, who was activated from injured reserve last week, would be the likely backup.
Garrett Wilson is in the protocol too
The Jets announced that Wilson is in the concussion protocol, with head coach Aaron Glenn giving the update. It is a setback for a team that has said it will not trade him: Schefter and Tom Pelissero both reported that the Jets will not trade Wilson before the deadline. The Jets visit the Chiefs on Sunday, and Wilson’s availability will depend on how he moves through the protocol this week. Rapoport added a piece of good news for New York, noting that running back Breece Hall and edge rusher David Bailey could return.
WR Garrett Wilson is in the concussion protocol
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 4, 2026
Full injury update from Coach Glenn ⬇️
Parsons set to practice
Schefter reported that Parsons is slated to practice Wednesday for the first time since he tore his ACL and meniscus on Dec. 14. Packers coach Matt LaFleur had said Monday that the intention was to get him on the field this week. If Green Bay uses the full 21-day window to activate him, as LaFleur indicated, that points to a return on Nov. 25 against the Rams, though the team visits the Patriots on Sunday and hosts the Vikings the week after that. Parsons has said he is more concerned with being healthy at the end of the season than with an early return.
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