The Browns Cleared Deshaun Watson and Benched Him Anyway

Deshaun Watson has officially cleared the NFL concussion protocol, which is great news for his health and terrible news for his job security. According to Ian Rapoport, the Cleveland Browns are keeping Watson listed as questionable and starting Shedeur Sanders anyway.

There are quarterback controversies, and then there is whatever is happening in Cleveland. When a franchise quarterback clears medical testing and the team still decides to roll with the backup, that is not a precautionary measure. That is a polite benching.

"Ian Rapoport: '#Browns QB Deshaun Watson has also cleared concussion protocol and remains questionable. Shedeur Sanders will start.'"

The reality is that Watson has given the Browns zero reasons to rush him back onto the field. Through eight games this season, the veteran has managed just seven passing touchdowns and a dismal 40.9 QBR.

The breaking point likely came last week. Cleveland got absolutely dismantled by the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 27-6 loss where the offense looked completely lifeless before Watson took the hit that put him in the protocol.

Paying a guy historic, fully guaranteed money to produce those kinds of numbers is bad enough. Benching him the exact moment he gets cleared by independent neurologists is objectively hilarious. It is like buying a luxury sports car, realizing the transmission is shot, and deciding to just ride a motorized scooter to work instead.

For anyone looking at the weekend lines, the betting markets now have to adjust to Sanders taking the snaps in New Orleans. Given how stagnant the Cleveland offense has been all year, shifting to the second-year quarterback might actually inject some unpredictable upside into the total.

Sanders will officially take the field against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday. If he actually manages to move the chains and put points on the board, the Browns are going to have a very expensive, very awkward conversation waiting for them on Monday morning.