Daniel Oyefusi Nov 8, 2026, 07:05 PM ET

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Daniel Oyefusi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN. Prior to ESPN, he covered the Miami Dolphins for the Miami Herald, as well as the Baltimore Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.

NEW ORLEANS -- Browns coach Todd Monken said he was "proud" of Shedeur Sanders after his two-touchdown performance in Cleveland's 23-22 overtime loss to the Saints but refused to answer whether Sanders made a case to start at quarterback going forward.

Sanders made his first start of the season as Deshaun Watson was inactive after missing two days of practice while sidelined in the NFL's concussion protocol. Watson returned to practice Friday and cleared the protocol Saturday, but Sanders took all the first-team reps in practice. Sanders completed 19 of 31 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Browns on a late field-goal drive to send the game to overtime and connected with Harold Fannin Jr .…