What happened: Cleveland placed quarterback Deshaun Watson into the protocol Wednesday after he experienced delayed effects from a helmet-to-helmet hit. The designation followed evaluations conducted three days after the road matchup.

Why it matters: Cleveland fell 27-6 at Pittsburgh on Sunday, leaving the offense facing quarterback uncertainty midway through the schedule. Any missed time alters the roster dynamic with the NFL trade deadline approaching on Nov. 10.

What to watch: Watson must clear each phase of the league-mandated protocol and secure approval from an independent neurological consultant before returning to practice or competition.