The Cleveland Browns are not ready to talk about Shedeur Sanders‘ future heading into the final game of the season.
Sanders will draw his seventh and final start of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17. The fifth-round pick has gone 2-4 since taking over for Dillon Gabriel as the starting quarterback in Week 12, passing for 1,289 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
The Browns are headed toward an important offseason decision on Sanders, weighing whether he’s the quarterback they want to build around despite holding two first-round picks. For now, though, head coach Kevin Stefanski kept the focus squarely on this week’s opponent.
“I understand the question, but for me, I have the blinders on for the final game here against Cincinnati,” Stefanski said on Wednesday. “And that’s where his focus is as well.”
Stefanski is facing uncertainty of his own, with questions lingering about whether he’ll remain with the franchise beyond this season. However, he declined to comment on his future or whether the matter had been discussed.
“The most important thing is what’s in front of us,” Stefanski said. “That’s our game Sunday down in Cincinnati and that’s all we care about.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Showing ‘Constant Improvement’
Sanders has had highs and lows with the Browns. But what Stefanski and the coaching staff have been most impressed with has been his desire to get better.
“The exciting part with Shedeur and a lot of the young players is improvement,” Stefanski said. “Asking them to improve on this technique or this thing that has to do with the game, and these guys being conscientious enough to put the work in. That’s the exciting part with young players — seeing constant improvement.
The Browns have a strong rookie class that gives the franchise a clear foundation moving forward. Tight end Harold Fannin has emerged as a centerpiece, leading the team in every receiving category, while linebacker Carson Schwesinger has positioned himself as the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Defensive tackle Mason Graham, running backs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, and wide receiver Isaiah Bond round out a group of young talent the Browns can confidently build around.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Looking for Big Finish
Sanders has been his most vocal critic. He passed for 186 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite a strong start, Sanders was largely ineffective in the second half. After the game, he acknowledged that the offense needs to be better.
“It felt good getting a win overall and especially the team we won against. I think it’s been bittersweet because I feel like the offense, we got to do our part,” Sanders said. “I got to do my part a little bit more, we can’t be happy with only 13 points on the board. So, we just got to be able to put up more points.”
He’ll get one more shot against a Cincinnati Bengals defense that ranks dead last in the NFL in yards given up per game (392.2).
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