Browns place QB Deshaun Watson in concussion protocol ahead of Week 9 game vs Saints
The Cleveland Browns said quarterback Deshaun Watson entered the NFL concussion protocol after reporting symptoms Tuesday, following a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Steelers. His availability for Sunday's game against the Saints is in doubt, with Shedeur Sanders the likely replacement.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The Cleveland Browns placed quarterback Deshaun Watson in the NFL concussion protocol, putting his availability for Sunday's Week 9 game against the New Orleans Saints in doubt. NewsweekN “The Cleveland Browns placed Deshaun Watson in the NFL's concussion protocol, casting doubt on his availability for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “starter Deshaun Watson has entered the NFL concussion protocol three days after his last game” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1According to a Browns statement released Wednesday, Watson took a helmet-to-helmet hit in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Steelers; an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant (UNC) evaluated him and cleared him, and he returned on the next offensive series. Fox NewsR “During the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Steelers, Deshaun took a helmet-to-helmet hit.”“Deshaun was cleared by the UNC and returned on the Browns’ next offensive series.” Read at Fox News ↗ Mixed · 2The team's medical staff evaluated him again after the game and on Monday morning, and both times he showed no symptoms and was cleared. On Tuesday morning he told staff he had begun experiencing symptoms Monday night, and the Browns say he was immediately placed in the protocol. Fox NewsR “Both times he showed no symptoms, passed his evaluations, and was cleared.” Read at Fox News ↗ NewsweekN “The Browns said Wednesday that they "immediately" placed him in the concussion protocol.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Mixed · 2Both outlets say the timing makes it unlikely Watson will be cleared in time. Newsweek calls this unlikely; Fox News says clearing the protocol typically takes multiple days and cites unofficial statistics that quarterbacks entering the protocol miss at least one game more than 70 percent of the time. NewsweekN “The timing makes it unlikely Watson will be cleared in time to play Sunday.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “Unofficial concussion statistics point to quarterbacks entering the protocol missing at least one game over 70 percent of the time.” Read at Fox News ↗ Mixed · 2Backup Shedeur Sanders would presumably start. Fox News adds that coaches could instead turn to third-stringer Dillon Gabriel, and that Sanders recently hired a new agent as part of a move to possibly get traded. Newsweek notes Gabriel returned from injured reserve as the emergency third-string quarterback in Week 8. Fox NewsR “Sanders is looking like he's in line to start unless the Cleveland coaching staff decides to pivot to third-stringer Dillon Gabriel.”“Sanders, by the way, hired a new agent weeks ago as part of a move to possibly get traded” Read at Fox News ↗ NewsweekN “Dillon Gabriel returned from the injured reserve as Cleveland's emergency third-string quarterback in Week 8.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Newsweek provides context on Watson's season: the 31-year-old won the starting job controversially after rupturing his Achilles twice, is completing 65.5% of passes with a 91.2 rating (his highest since joining the Browns in 2022), has led five game-winning drives, and topped 300 passing yards in each of the last two games. It says Sanders, a fifth-round pick, completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions in eight games last year. NewsweekN “Watson controversially won the starting quarterback job after rupturing his Achilles twice.”“completing 65.5% of his passes with a 91.2 quarterback rating, both his highest clips since joining the Browns in 2022”“completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in eight games” Read at Newsweek ↗
Mixed · 2The Browns are 5-3. Newsweek describes them as one game behind the Steelers for the AFC North lead, while Fox News says they are in third place in the division behind Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, despite being 3-0 at home. NewsweekN “who are one game behind the Steelers for the AFC North lead with a surprising 5-3 record” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “the club is in third place in the AFC North behind the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Straight injury report with season context on Watson's performance and Sanders' rookie numbers.
- Emphasis
- Watson's improved stats, the controversy over his winning the job, and Sanders' record as the next in line.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Sanders' agent move or the statistical odds of missing a game.
- Charged language
- “controversially”“struggled mightily”
- For example
-
“The timing makes it unlikely Watson will be cleared in time to play Sunday.” — Newsweek
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Frames the news as a quarterback scramble and a Sanders storyline, quoting the Browns' full statement.
- Emphasis
- Reproduces the team statement, the odds of missing games, Sanders' trade-seeking agent change and the Browns' playoff stakes.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little on Watson's season performance or his controversial return to the starting job.
- Charged language
- “scrambling”“significant development”
What every side reports
- Watson took a helmet-to-helmet hit in the first quarter against the Steelers and was cleared to return.
- He showed no symptoms in post-game and Monday evaluations, then reported symptoms Tuesday morning.
- The Browns placed him in the concussion protocol, announced Wednesday.
- Shedeur Sanders is the presumed starter for Sunday's game against the Saints.
- The Browns are 5-3.
Where accounts differ
-
Browns' position in the AFC North
- Centre
- Newsweek: one game behind the Steelers for the division lead.
- Right
- Fox News: third place behind the Steelers and Bengals.
Cleveland Browns organisation
The Browns say Watson was evaluated by the neurotrauma consultant and medical staff several times, cleared each time, and placed in the protocol immediately once he reported symptoms Tuesday.
“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.” — Fox News
Deshaun Watson person
Watson reported delayed symptoms himself to the medical staff; coverage includes no direct comment from him.
“Watson reported experiencing symptoms on Tuesday morning.” — Newsweek
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
-
Browns Place Deshaun Watson in Concussion Protocol Before Week 9 Game vs Saints
Neutral Concise report of the protocol placement with stats on Watson and Sanders.
Right1 article
-
Alarmist Treats the injury as throwing the Browns' quarterback situation into disarray and spotlights Sanders.
- 4 Nov 14:34 First Fox NewsR Deshaun Watson enters concussion protocol, leaving Browns eyeing Shedeur Sanders as possible starting QB
- 4 Nov 15:31 +57m NewsweekN Browns Place Deshaun Watson in Concussion Protocol Before Week 9 Game vs Saints
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…