Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders said his path to the starting job was never about overtaking Dillon Gabriel, but about staying prepared and taking advantage of his opportunity when it came.
Sanders took over for Gabriel at halftime of a Week 11 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens after Gabriel suffered a concussion. Gabriel remained in concussion protocol the following week, paving the way for Sanders to be named the starter. Sanders has not looked back and will start the rest of the season.
The path to the field for Sanders was anything but direct. After slipping to the fifth round in the draft, he opened training camp as Cleveland’s No. 4 quarterback and needed several breaks to go his way. The Browns traded away veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, thinning the depth chart. Sanders ultimately got his opportunity when Gabriel suffered a concussion.
“I had no plan. I just went and did what I had to do every day and left it up to God,” Sanders told Nathan Zegura on Cleveland Browns Daily. “I don’t worry about that kind of stuff because it’s not in my control.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Didn’t Wish Ill on Dillon Gabriel
Gabriel struggled during his stint as the starter, going 1-5 while throwing for 937 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. He averaged just 5.1 yards per attempt and failed to provide the momentum-changing plays the Browns desperately needed. During his final start before suffering a concussion, Gabriel was booed by the home crowd at Huntington Bank Field, which chanted for Sanders.
Sanders made it clear his opportunity did not come with any ill will toward Gabriel, stressing that wishing harm or misfortune on a teammate runs counter to who he is.
“I was never at any point wanting anything to negatively happen to anybody,” Sanders said. “That’s not my character or something I would wish on somebody. Out of all the quarterbacks, we’re all young and chasing our goals, chasing our dreams. To have spite toward someone because they’re in a position you’re not in, I don’t think that’s a good thing.”
Sanders actions prove that. After Gabriel was booed against the Ravens, Sanders — unsure at the time whether he would start moving forward — was compelled to address the situation with fans.
“When Dillon’s out there playing, I appreciate the fans, I appreciate everybody,” Sanders said. “But I’m a good person overall, and I don’t like seeing him feel uncomfortable or lose confidence when he’s out there.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Auditioning for Long-Term Role
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed this week that Sanders will start the final four games. It gives Sanders some runway to prove he can be the long-term option for Cleveland at quarterback.
However, Sanders is not too focused on that. He’s staying honed in on his next opponent — the Chicago Bears.
“You don’t know what could happen. So I just go out here and enjoy my day. Work hard. Do everything I can. If I’m here, I’m here. If I’m not, I’m not. It’s nothing in my control,” Sanders said on Dec. 11. “So I try to control what I can control. That’s going out there, making the right reads, doing the right things, being the person I am and things will fall how they’re supposed to.”
Sanders still has room to grow. But he’s shown improvement every week and has provided some highlight reel plays. Sanders has passed for 769 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions this season. He’s coming off a 364-yard, four touchdown game against the Tennessee Titans.
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