Kevin Stefanski confirms suspicion with his handling of Cleveland Browns QB Shedeur Sanders
We have an update on the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback position.
It was a brutal debut for Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders this past weekend against the Baltimore Ravens. After being elevated to the second-string quarterback behind fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel prior to the game, the former Colorado star was forced onto the field once Gabriel suffered a concussion during the contest. In the 23-16 loss, Sanders completed just 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception, while also taking two atrocious sacks on the day.
During and following the defeat, Sanders was met with a lot of criticism and disagreement nationally. On one side, the rookie had barely had any opportunities with the first team offense during practice, and this was his first live game action in the NFL. It was understandable why he didn’t look sharp. On the other side, some returned to Sanders’ scouting report coming out of college, citing poor pocket management and holding on to the football way too long. It is what made Sanders such a divisive prospect on his way to being selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
With Gabriel still in conclusion protocol and the Browns traveling out west to take on the Las Vegas Raiders, many suspected that Sanders could be making his first start this upcoming week. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that suspicion on Tuesday. Ready or not, here comes even more Sanders discourse.
How did the Browns get here?
A to Z Sports Cleveland Browns writer Brandon Little has done a tremendous job covering every stop of the Sanders saga so far. He was kind enough to give some context for how we got here, and what to expect against an also-struggling Raiders team.
“Cleveland has held off playing Shedeur Sanders for as long as they could, but he’s now set to take the field due to injury. Sanders flashed in the preseason with two touchdowns in his debut against the Carolina Panthers before coming back down to earth in his second outing. The Browns gave veteran QB Joe Flacco four games before turning to rookie Dillon Gabriel, who has started the last six contests.
“Cleveland’s struggling offensive line is a tough match for Sanders, whose biggest weaknesses are taking sacks and holding the ball too long. Those issues showed up immediately against the Ravens, where he was sacked twice, lost a fumble, and threw an interception. This time, though, Sanders will get a full week of practice reps with the Browns’ starters — already putting him in a better position than he was in Baltimore. When he entered that game in the second half, those were his first live reps with the starting offense. The deck was stacked against him, and he was never going to succeed under those circumstances.
“Now, Sanders gets a chance to make his first start against a struggling Ravens team. Even though the game is on the road, Browns fans will rally behind him, hoping he can spark any kind of success under center. This is a real opportunity for the fifth-round pick.”
Depending on how Sanders plays on Sunday could go a long way to determine how Stefanski handles the quarterback room for the remainder of the season. Will Sanders take advantage of the opportunity, or is this merely a sideshow until Gabriel returns? We will know better after this weekend.
Cleveland Browns News
Shedeur Sanders showed the kind of teammate he is in the locker room after he debuted in loss to the Ravens
Shedeur Sanders made his debut in the second half of Cleveland’s Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens after Dillon Gabriel exited to be evaluated for a concussion. The Browns fell 23-16 and dropped to 2-8 on the season. Sanders played the entire second half after Gabriel was checked for a concussion at halftime, when […]
