Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III didn’t hold back in his assessment of how the team is handling rookie Shedeur Sanders.
The Browns selected Sanders in the fifth round of the NFL draft, ending a surprising slide for the former Colorado star. Once projected as a potential early-round pick, Sanders didn’t hear his name called until Day 3.
Since arriving in Cleveland, Sanders has primarily worked as the team’s No. 4 quarterback in training camp. The Browns recently added veteran Tyler Huntley to bolster depth with Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel both nursing hamstring injuries. Joe Flacco, 40, is penciled in as the starter.
Shortly after Huntley’s signing was announced, Griffin voiced his frustration on social media.
“Shedeur Sanders is being set up to fail in Cleveland,” Griffin said. “But God’s got him showing out even with limited reps.”
Griffin spent the 2016 season with the Browns. He started five games, going 1-4 in those contests.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Looking Forward to Preseason
Sanders has been the low man on the totem pole during practice, working exclusively with backups. A significant portion of his work is expected to come in preseason games. The Browns kick off their preseason slate against the Carolina Panthers on Friday.
Sanders is uncertain what his workload will look like but he’s looking forward to more reps.
“I think every rep I get in general is valuable,” Sanders said on Monday. “We definitely take things up a notch, I would say with everything. So every rep, anytime I step on the field, I take it like it could be my last because you don’t know. There’s players that we was just practicing with last week that’s not here no more. So like I said, it is more about a bond. It’s more about going all out. It’s more about how you’ll be remembered.”
Sanders missed part of practice on Saturday with arm soreness but he said he’s good to go after having a bit of time to recover.
“That’s all it truly is,” said Sanders, who self-reported the sorness. “Sometimes you go in hot, then you wait for a second, and then you get cold, then get back hot. My arm and body weren’t used to that, so it’s just and adjustment within my body and within my arm.”
Shedeur Shut Down Deion Sanders’ Visit at Browns Training Camp
Sanders has done his best to navigate a challenging situation in Cleveland. One of his more notable personal decisions during training camp was asking his father, Deion Sanders, not to attend. Deion — who coached Shedeur at both Jackson State and Colorado — still made the trip to visit his other son, Shilo.
“I don’t want him coming to see me right now because I want to get to where I want to go, then for him to see me,” Sanders said. “I don’t want him to see me get a couple reps and he’s cheering like a good dad like, nah, you can’t be proud of me right now. I’ve got to get to where I’m going and I know it’s a lot I’ve got to do to get there.”
Sanders faces a steep climb to move up the depth chart. He was listed as the No. 4 quarterback on the team’s unofficial depth chart released Monday, and the recent signing of Huntley adds another layer to the Browns’ increasingly complex quarterback competition.
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