The New Orleans Saints will face a backup quarterback in Week 9, with Browns head coach Todd Monken ruling out Deshaun Watson, who is in concussion protocol. That means the Saints will get a shot at backup Shedeur Sanders, a high-profile second-year pro who started 7 games as a rookie but has seen limited snaps this season.
Watson was added to the concussion protocol on Tuesday after developing symptoms Monday night. He returned to practice on Friday but only participated in a limited capacity. Watson was listed as questionable and could potentially be available in a backup role.
“It’s been great," Monken said, when asked about how the week has gone for Sanders, "been a really good three days.”
The Saints ruled only had one player ruled out in RB CJ Donaldson (shoulder/concussion), but have four players listed as questionable in CB Martin Emerson Jr. (shin), WR Jordyn Tyson (hamstring), LT Kelvin Banks (ankle) and LT Asim Richards (hand). Tyson and Banks both returned to practice this week after lengthy stints on injured reserve and were limited all three days. Head coach Kellen Moore said they'd be evaluated heading into the weekend and that would determine their status for Sunday. Banks hasn't played since going down with a high ankle sprain late in the Week 2 win over the Ravens.
“We’ll see how their bodies are feeling coming out of this," Moore said. "Again, they were limited this whole week, hadn’t had them for a while and so we’ll see if it’s an option this week or not.”
Here's how the final injury report of the week shaped up for the Saints:
LP = limited participation; FP = full participation; DNP = did not participate
- OT Kelvin Banks (ankle): LP | LP | LP - questionable
- RB CJ Donaldson (shoulder/concussion): LP | DNP | DNP - out
- CB Martin Emerson Jr. (shin): LP | LP | DNP - questionable
- DT Davon Godchaux (NIR-rest): n/a | DNP | FP
- RB Alvin Kamara (NIR-rest/back): DNP | LP | FP
- S Justin Reid (concussion): FP | n/a | n/a
- OT Asim Richards (thumb): LP | LP | LP - questionable
- RG Cesar Ruiz (knee): FP | FP | FP
- DT Nathan Shepherd (illness): FP | n/a | n/a
- WR Jordyn Tyson (hamstring): LP | LP | LP - questionable
Richards' status will be one to watch as he continues to navigate a thumb injury suffered during the win over the Giants. Moore said that Richards had a procedure to clean up the injury during the bye week.
Emerson's injury occurred during the loss to the Steelers in Paris, but Moore said his absence on Friday was more on the rest side of the equation. He's still in the mix to start against his former team.
Another player likely to see the field against their former team is Audric Estime, who was claimed on waivers this week after being cut by the Browns. It's a quick turnaround, but one that he's well equipped to make given his familiarity with the Saints offense, having spent the second half of last season and all of training camp in New Orleans.
“Obviously we know [Estime] well from our past experiences," Moore said. "He can acclimate rather quickly into our system having known it and been around it for enough time and so we’ll have a few options in that running back room on the back end of this week.”
The Browns have only listed one player as out. Here's how their side of the injury report broke down:
- OT Austin Barber (calf): DNP | LP | FP
- WR Denzel Boston (calf): LP | LP | FP
- DT Maliek Collins (elbow/illness): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- TE Harold Fannin (groin): n/a | LP | LP
- CB Myles Harden (hamstring): LP | FP | FP
- C Elgton Jenkins (knee): LP | FP | FP
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (hip): n/a | LP | LP
- LB Carson Schwesinger (wrist/ankle): LP | LP | FP
- DE Jared Verse (knee): LP | FP | FP
- QB Deshaun Watson (concussion): DNP | DNP | LP - questionable
- LB Quincy Williams (hamstring): DNP | LP | LP
The Saints (2-5) host the Browns (5-3) for a noon kickoff Sunday at the Caesars Superdome. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.
