Shedeur Sanders’ uphill climb to get on the field this season with the Cleveland Browns has been steeper than anticipated.
The Browns made a change at quarterback on Wednesday, replacing Joe Flacco with rookie Dillon Gabriel. However, it didn’t change anything for Sanders, who remains as the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Flacco will serve as the primary backup to Gabriel for Week 5.
“Joe’s the backup,” Stefanski said firmly.
That keeps Sanders as the emergency quarterback on game day. He’ll suit up but is officially inactive, only able to enter if both Gabriel and Flacco are knocked out of the game due to injury.
Preseason Flop Weighing Heavily on Browns QB Shedeur Sanders
Longtime Browns reporter Tony Grossi said that Sanders’ final preseason performance has had a significant impact on how the former Colorado star is viewed by the Browns. Sanders played nearly the entire second half but completed just three of six passes for 14 yards. He was also sacked five times and was pulled late before a potential game-winning drive.
“The pecking order was set from day one, and it never changed. The only thing that changed was Kenny Pickett was traded. You guys completely minimized that [Los Angeles] Rams game. Preseason games are important for rookies. If they don’t improve from one appearance to the other, it’s a setback, and that’s what happened in the Rams game with Shedeur,” Grossi said. “I don’t care what the circumstances were. It was an awful performance and it was a shock and revelation to the Browns. He’s probably farther behind now than he was at the beginning of training camp.”
It’s another somewhat stunning development for Sanders, who has been handed quite a few since the draft. Many projected Sanders to be an early first-round pick. However, he fell to the fifth round, where the Browns selected him with pick No. 144.
Deion Sanders confirmed that they told at least one team — the Baltimore Ravens — not to draft Shedeur. The goal was to get on the field early, where he couldn’t do with an entrenched starter like Lamar Jackson atop the depth chart.
Cleveland seemed like a good landing spot for early playing time. However, Sanders does not appear close to seeing the field.
Shedeur Sanders Fires Back at Critics After Gabriel Decision
Sanders managed to make his own headlines after Gabriel was named the starter. While “speaking” with reporters, Sanders mouthed his responses in silence.
The mime performance by Sanders was apparently in response to former NFL coach Rex Ryan, who had criticized him during an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up” earlier in the week.
“This kid talks and he runs his mouth. Like he said, ‘I can be a starting quarterback’ with his arms crossed like this. Get your (expletive) in the front row and study and do all that,” Ryan said. “If I know, the whole league knows. Quit being an embarrassment that way.”
Regardless of the antics, Gabriel will draw the start for Week 5 in London. The Browns are a 3.5-point underdog against the Minnesota Vikings.
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