Cleveland Browns

Myles Harden

CB

Harden took down Tyler Shough for 10- and six-yard sacks in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, which were the former's first sacks of his three-year NFL career. The 2024 seventh-rounder is up to 33 tackles (19 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and seven pass defenses (including one interception) through nine regular-season games.

Carson Schwesinger

LB

Schwesinger may have tweaked his wrist during the Browns' 23-22 overtime loss to the Saints in Week 9, when he logged a season-high 15 tackles (10 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and one forced fumble. He has two more chances to log a full practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Texans.

Denzel Ward

CB

Ward was on the field for 73 of the Browns' 75 defensive snaps in Week 9, and his presence at practice Wednesday suggests his injury is likely not severe. If he can log a full practice Thursday or Friday, there's a solid chance he'll be able to avoid carrying an injury designation into the weekend.

Quincy Williams

LB

Williams has been working through a hamstring issue as of late, although he was cleared to play against the Saints in Week 9, when he logged seven tackles (five solo) in a 23-22 overtime loss for the Browns. He's opened Week 10 prep with a limited session, and he has two more chances to log a full practice and avoid an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Texans.

Michael Burton

FB

Burton suffered a calf injury against the Saints in Week 9. He was cleared to return to that contest, but he's still working through the injury and was held out of Wednesday's practice. Burton will have two more opportunities to practice ahead of Sunday's contest against the Texans.

Tytus Howard

OT

questionable

Elgton Jenkins

C

questionable

Austin Barber

OT

questionable

Harold Fannin Jr.

TE

Fannin dealt with the groin issue in practice last week but ultimately avoided an injury designation ahead of last Sunday's overtime loss to the Saints. In that contest, Fannin caught both of his targets for 42 yards and a touchdown. He had been silent for much of the game before producing a 39-yard touchdown in the extra frame. The overall TE7 in half-PPR points per game this season, Fannin has 37 catches for 453 yards and four touchdowns on 53 targets through nine appearances.

Ronnie Hickman

S

Hickman suffered a concussion in Week 9 against the Saints. He will have multiple steps to work through, but has the full week to clear concussion protocol. The fourth-year pro has 57 tackles (26 solo), four pass deflections and one interception in nine regular-season games this season.

Denzel Boston

WR

Boston logged a 93 percent offensive snap share in this past Sunday's 23-22 overtime loss to the Saints en route to hauling in six of his seven targets for 98 yards. However the rookie WR emerged from the contest with a toe issue that will make his status worth watching ahead of this weekend's game against the Texans. If Boston -- who's expected to return to practice Thursday, per Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer -- ends up being available, he'll be catching passes once again from Deshaun Watson, while Week 9 starter Shedeur Sanders will revert to serving as the Browns' QB2.

Shedeur Sanders

QB

Watson led the Browns to a 5-3 record over their first eight games before developing concussion symptoms and being placed in the NFL's five-step protocol last week. Though Watson cleared protocol last Saturday, his lack of on-field reps during the week prompted the Browns to keep him inactive for Sunday's matchup with the Saints. Sanders stepped in under center and overcame a slow start to finish with 297 passing yards, 28 rushing yards, two passing touchdowns and no turnovers in a 23-22 overtime loss, with his performance drawing praise from head coach Todd Monken. Though the Browns will go back to a healthy Watson for Week 10, Sanders' strong outing in New Orleans could put Watson on shakier ground atop the depth chart.

Deshaun Watson

QB

Watson cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol this past Saturday, but because he managed just one limited practice during Week 9 prep, the Browns opted to make him inactive for their matchup with the Saints. Shedeur Sanders drew his first start of the season and threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns in the team's 23-22 overtime loss in New Orleans, but he'll return to the No. 2 role this week while a healthy Watson reclaims the starting job. Though the Browns have gone 5-3 with Watson under center this season, he hasn't been without his flaws (six turnovers, 33 sacks taken). As such, Watson may need a strong showing against the Texans to hold off Sanders for the starting job in the weeks to come.

Maliek Collins

DT

questionable

Noah Igbinoghene

CB

Taylen Green

QB

Parker Brailsford

C

Justin Jefferson

LB

Andre Szmyt

PK

Szmyt was able to convert multiple field-goal tries for the eighth straight game, and his three makes matched a season high for the 28-year-old. The kicker made a 41-yarder in the second quarter and a 30-yard attempt in the third quarter before tying the game up at 16-16 with a 51-yard make with eight seconds left in regulation. Szmyt has now gone 19-for-21 on field-goal tries, including 3-for-3 from 50-plus yards, over nine contests so far during the 2026 campaign.

Jerry Jeudy

WR

The veteran wideout had zero grabs headed into the Browns' finals drive of regulation, but a 30-yard grab down the left sideline followed up a by a seven-yard gain two plays later set Cleveland up for the game-tying field goal to send it to overtime. The fourth option in the passing attack for the Browns, Jeudy has 18 catches for 208 yards and no touchdowns through nine games this season. He's well off the fantasy radar.

Dylan Sampson

RB

Sampson toted the rock a season-high eight times, but he averaged a minimal 2.6 yards per carry. The running back remained heavily involved in the passing game, tying wide receiver KC Concepcion for second on the team in targets behind wideout Denzel Boston (seven). Sampson has now reeled in three or more passes in three straight games, and he figures to remain most valuable as a pass catcher for fantasy managers ahead of the team's Week 10 matchup with Houston.

KC Concepcion

WR

Most of Concepcion's production came on a 64-yard TD in the fourth quarter as Shedeur Sanders found him just inside New Orleans' 30-yard line and the speedy rookie -- who briefly exited the contest after sustained what appeared to be a right leg issue -- to did the rest by eluding a couple defenders. It was Concepcion's first career NFL touchdown, and he sports a 37-437-1 line on 55 targets through his first nine games for the Browns. If Sanders takes over from Deshaun Watson (concussion) on a permanent basis, it could lead to plenty more big plays for Concepcion.

Quinshon Judkins

RB

The Browns' running game once again struggled, with the team averaging just 2.8 yards per carry overall, and Judkins' longest gain went for only 12 yards. Dylan Sampson saw a season-high 11 touches to Judkins' 16, and the backfield could be drifting toward a timeshare as coach Todd Monken looks for solutions. Judkins has topped 70 rushing yards in a game just once all season, and he seems unlikely to break out in a Week 10 meeting with the Texans.

Dillon Gabriel

QB

It was announced earlier in the week that Shedeur Sanders would start Sunday's contest due to Deshaun Watson being in concussion protocol, and although Watson has not officially been ruled out for Week 9 as of yet, he reportedly will be. That will leave the backup spot to Gabriel, but presumably for only one contest, as the report notes Watson is expected back for Week 10.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren

S