Shedeur Sanders will begin the season on the bench for the Cleveland Browns, a transition the former Colorado star will have to adjust to.
Sanders, a fifth-round pick, was always a long shot to open as the Week 1 starter. He built some momentum with a strong preseason outing against the Panthers, throwing for 138 yards and two touchdowns. But an oblique injury sidelined him last week and kept him out of Cleveland’s second preseason game.
The Browns officially named 40-year-old Joe Flacco the starter this week, an expected move. Flacco was the only healthy quarterback through much of training camp and gives Cleveland a veteran presence under center to start the year.
One boost for Sanders has been the addition of Tyler Huntley to the roster. Huntley has spent most of his career as a backup but has stepped in when called upon. Sanders said Huntley has provided valuable perspective as he adjusts to his new role.
“I’m thankful that (Tyler) Huntley here, I would say, because he gave me a perspective of quarterback that I feel like I needed,” Sanders said on Thursday. “I feel like God sent him here for a reason, honestly, just to talk and to be like a guy, be like a mentor toward me and his career also. But being in that backup role, he faced that also in his career and he just gave me the mentality on what I need to do and how I need to stay on top of everything. Just, you know, just helping me out throughout everything.”
Shedeur Sanders Not Concerned With Depth Chart
The Browns have confirmed that Flacco will start the team’s preseason finale on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams, with Dillon Gabriel and Sanders also seeing time. Kenny Pickett remains limited by a hamstring injury and won’t play.
“Joe (Flacco) will start the game. Dillon will play second. Shedeur will play third,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said.
The Browns have announced Flacco as the starter but have yet to sort out the rest of the depth chart. Sanders is not concerned about where he may land.
“Oh, honestly, bro, I really don’t look into that. I don’t care,” Sanders said. “Whenever it’s time for me to get out there and play, I’mma play. Whenever it’s time for the lights to come on, I’m gonna do my thing. I’m not concerned about when it is. I’m not concerned about how many reps I’m getting at this point, it is what it is because I know when the lights come on, when everything going, when the pressure’s on, you know who I am and I’ll always be that way.”
Shedeur Sanders Not Using Injury as an Excuse
Sanders returned to throwing this week after missing time with the oblique injury. It was a setback, but one he didn’t allow to derail his progress.
“I’m feeling good. In life, it’s always going to be pain. It’s always going to be things, adversity, things that’s going to knock you down sometimes. But the main thing about it is you just gotta push through it. A lot of people in this world going through stuff, but you know, I’m playing for a lot more than just me, you know, so regardless of pain, that’s always how I’ve been,” Sanders said. “In regard to physically, if I don’t feel my best, I still gotta go out there and execute with no excuses.”
The Browns open the regular season on Sept. 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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