The Cleveland Browns have responded following Shedeur Sanders’ bold statement on being ready to start now.
Sanders is the Browns’ No. 3 quarterback, behind Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. But the fifth-round pick appears to be growing impatient with his role, which he made clear in a statement while speaking to ESPN Cleveland this week.
“I don’t think playing or not playing is in my hands,” Sanders said. “Based on the situation, if things happen, if things pan out where I play, then I’ll be out there and I’ll be ready to play. I’m ready to play right now.”
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was asked about the comments from Sanders and gave a general assessment of the situation.
“He’s doing a good job. I hope all of our guys feel like they’re ready and they’re working very hard at it,” Stefanski said. “We do a lot of work with our players, rookies, vets, all our guys, spending every available minute that we have with them, getting them ready physically, mentally, whether it’s in the weight room, the meeting room, out on the field. So, all of our guys are working very hard.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Feels Like He’d Be Starter Elsewhere
Sanders did not mince words when address the quarterback play he’s seen around the league this season.
“I know if you see the quarterback play in the league right now, I know I’m capable of doing better than that,” Sanders said. “It’s obvious a lot of teams would be playing me, but that’s not in God’s plan right now. And some things happen for a reason and I’m a true believer in that. And whatever his plan for me is I believe in it. So I don’t be stressed or feel bad that I’m in the situation I’m in right now. It’s just funny to me and I just enjoy it.”
Stefanski noted every situation is different. And the Browns certaintly have a unique one.
“I think every situation is different, all the circumstances are different,” Stefanski said. “It’s a very difficult position to play. You know, you’ve seen in this league guys play right away, you’ve seen guys sit for years, plural. So, I don’t know if there’s one right way to do it.”
Browns Want Joe Flacco to Feel ‘Comfortable’
Sanders’ clearest path to the field is in Cleveland, unless he is cut or traded. He’ll have to leapfrog both Flacco and Gabriel. However, the 40-year-old Flacco hasn’t done much to establish himself as the unquestioned starter in Cleveland.
Flacco is 31st in the NFL with a 65.9 rating and the Browns are 30th in the league with 15.3 points per game. The Browns want the veteran to find his rhythm, which they felt he had earlier in the year.
“Just got to get him comfortable,” Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said. “Haven’t been able to get back into rhythm again. Our job as coach is to get him feeling comfortable and confident and, we’ve been working at that. He’s not a guy that gets real up and down, so you wouldn’t sense any of that, but just in the course of the game, allowing him to feel confident that he can rip it and really that’s our job as coaching staff to make sure that we get him there.”
The Browns face the Detroit Lions this week on the road and are a 9.5-point underdog.
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