The Cleveland Browns will be starting another new quarterback in Week 12.
The Browns have started Dillon Gabriel and Joe Flacco this season, and now Shedeur Sanders will be added to the list. Sanders made his NFL debut on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, as he played the second half due to Gabriel being in concussion protocol.
Although Gabriel would be the starter if he were cleared, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Wednesday that Sanders will start on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“Shedeur is going to start at quarterback, Dillon is still in the concussion protocol,” Stefanski said on Wednesday. “He is improving. But obviously, we have to put a plan together for all of our players. All of our offense, defense, and special teams. Plan of attack and give our guys a chance.”
With Sanders starting on Sunday on the road, he will be given the first-team reps in practice, which is something he hadn’t gotten all season long.
In relief of Gabriel, Sanders went 4-of-16 for 47 yards and an interception. But those were his first snaps with the first-team offense. So the hope is that he will be much better after one week of practice with the first team.
Bailey Zappe will also get elevated from the practice squad and serve as the backup quarterback in Week 12.
Shedeur Sanders Knows He Can Be Better
Although Sanders didn’t have any reps with the first-team offense, the Browns’ rookie still felt like he should have played better on Sunday.
Sanders was frustrated with his performance, and he admitted he played poorly.
“I don’t think I played good, I don’t think I played good at all,” Sanders said postgame on Sunday. “I think it’s a lot of things we need to look at, during the week and go and just get comfortable, even throwing routes with Jerry (Jeudy) and throwing routes with all those guys.
“So I think that was my first ball to him all year. But other than that, I just think overall we just got to go next week and understand, so then we have a week to prepare stuff I like to do.”
Sanders will now get a chance to improve on his first NFL game when the Browns take on the Raiders.
Browns Coach Expects Sanders to be Better
Sanders made some nice throws in his first outing, but also made some mistakes.
The rookie quarterback held onto the ball too long at times. This was a knock on him entering the NFL Draft. But Stefanski expects Sanders to learn from those mistakes and be better next time out.
“Well, I think you learn from every single play that you’re out there. And there’s always lessons to be learned,” Stefanski said on Sunday. “Obviously there’s always going to be good and there’s always going to be bad. That’s just part of playing and getting reps. Then part of learning is taking all those coaching points that come with those reps.
The Browns are 3.5-point underdogs on Sunday against the Raiders.
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