Shedeur Sanders is already giving the Saints some extra motivation ahead of his first start of the season.

The popular and polarizing Browns quarterback provided New Orleans with extra motivation after his response to a question about the Saints’ defense earlier in the week.

“Yeah, I’ve seen a lot,” Sanders told reporters Wednesday. “When I smile, just know that means something. I’m maturing. I’m maturing. Like, I could have given a decent answer, but now I’m just going to smile whenever it’s just, like, some questions.”

Sanders, seemingly hinting that he could say more, retracted from doing so — but apparently still said enough. Now, with Deshaun Watson out with a concussion, Sanders has been officially tabbed as this week’s starter.

His comments still managed to garner the attention of Saints defensive end Carl Granderson, who addressed them Friday, per Cleveland.com.

We’re gonna come in with a chip on our shoulder for sure,” Granderson told reporters on Friday. “You know, they they’ve been chirping a little bit. We see what the quarterback done said. So, you know, we’re going to come in hot and ready to play. We’re going to pack the defense, and the offense is going to come with it. So, it’s going to be a good game for sure. So we’re going to come out with the dub.”

Granderson, who has 5.5 sacks sacks this season — second on New Orleans — was noticeably excited for the game.

“I just can’t wait till Sunday to get out there, play fast and hit somebody, especially them,” he said.

Browns coach Todd Monken announced Friday that Sanders would start against the Saints after Watson entered concussion protocol following Cleveland’s 27-6 loss to the Steelers last week.

Watson returned to limited practice Friday, but it wasn’t enough to get cleared, making way for Sanders to get the nod.

Sanders, a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has completed 3 of 3 pass attempts this season for a total of 2 yards.

Sanders started seven games as a rookie, compiling a 3-4 record while throwing seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, accumulating 1,400 passing yards. However, he only completed 56.6 percent of his passes.

The former Colorado standout lost the preseason starting quarterback competition to Watson prior to the season and has been the backup this year.

Monken is looking forward to Sanders’ first start of 2026.

“I’m fired up to see him play. Who wouldn’t be?” Monken told reporters Friday. “Let’s go. It’s the expectation of the position. This is what he’s wanted, right? He wants to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Let’s go. Let’s let it rip. Let’s see what we got. We’re not holding anything back.

“He’s another one of our young players that we’re looking to see.”