The Cleveland Browns kicked off the Shedeur Sanders era unexpectedly on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, as Dillon Gabriel left the game to enter concussion protocol and will not return.
A frustrated fanbase at Huntington Bank Field erupted upon Sanders’ entrance into the contest during the second half. The NFL posted video to social media of the moments when Sanders ran out onto the field.
Several of Cleveland’s offensive linemen can be seen waving their hands up and down in an attempt to get the crowd to quiet down so that Sanders could communicate with them and the sideline for his first-ever regular season snap as a professional football player.
Browns Have Been Adamant That Dillon Gabriel Would Remain Starter Over Shedeur Sanders, Despite Slow Start
GettyQuarterback Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns.
The Ravens didn’t make it easy on Sanders, welcoming him to the league in physical fashion. He was 2-of-5 for 12 yards and an interception heading into the fourth quarter, and Baltimore’s defense had already sacked him twice.
Sanders took multiple hits outside of those sacks, including as he threw the first interception of his career and after scrambling for five yards and a first down.
Gabriel exited the contest after completing 7-of-10 throws for 68 yards. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has been adamant that Gabriel would remain the starting QB, even despite a slow start and clamoring from Browns fans and local media for Sanders to get a chance in what appears already to be a lost season.
Gabriel entered the game against the Ravens with a completion rate of 58.6 percent, 869 passing yards, seven TDs and two INTs in five starts and seven appearances. He was 1-4 as the starter, while the Browns entered the week with an overall record of 2-7, with both wins coming at home.
Shedeur Sanders Could Make First Start of His Career Against Raiders Next Week
GettyQuarterback Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns.
Depending on the severity of Gabriel’s injury, it is possible he could return by next week when the Browns square off against the Las Vegas Raiders in the desert.
However, if he does have a concussion, historical precedent involving that injury and the league’s now mandatory policies surrounding it indicate it is more likely that Gabriel will miss the team’s next game on November 23.
If that is the case, the Browns will be able to spend the week tailoring a game plan specifically to Sanders’ skill set. That is not how the offense prepared for its game this week against the Ravens, which may well complicate Sanders’ first foray into NFL football and lead to him struggling more than a rookie making his first start normally would.
Should Sanders make his first start next week, it would be fitting for it to come against Las Vegas. Owner Mark Davis did some professional flirting with Sanders leading up to last April’s NFL draft, and the young QB also has a strong off-field relationship with legendary quarterback Tom Brady, who is also a minority owner of the Raiders.
That said, Las Vegas traded for Geno Smith during the offseason and passed on Sanders several times before Cleveland drafted him in the early part of the fifth round.
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