Shedeur Sanders may not be the answer to the Cleveland Browns‘ problems.
The Browns selected Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he has become the team’s backup quarterback. He has yet to appear in a game, and Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has made it clear he’s focused on Dillon Gabriel as the starter.
Meanwhile, NFL draft analyst and insider Matt Verderame doesn’t think Sanders would change anything for the Browns.
“I think the problems are bigger than the quarterback spot,” Verderame said on 92.3 The Fan. “I’m not saying that Shedeur Sanders couldn’t come in there and be better; maybe he could be? It’s impossible to say whether it would or wouldn’t be better. But I would say he was the third-string quarterback for a reason. …
“Does he get a shot this year? If you are Stefanski, you probably throw him in there at some point and say ‘Let’s see what the kid’s got.’ I think if you’re a Browns fan expecting him to come in an just be the savior, it’s a lot. There is a reason he went in the fifth round; there’s a reason why he’s the third-stringer. If his name wasn’t Shedeur Sanders and it was Johnny Smith, would you sit there and still have this clamouring to play him? I don’t know that you would. I think he will play at some point, but I don’t think he’s all of a sudden going to turn around all things.”
Even if Sanders gets a chance to start games, Verderame doesn’t think anything will change for the Browns or the rookie quarterback.
Sanders Dealing With Back Injury
Although Sanders has yet to appear in an NFL game, he was inactive on Sunday due to a back injury.
The rookie quarterback suffered a minor back injury, which is why he was inactive and Bailey Zappe was promoted to be the backup.
“Yeah, he obviously came in Saturday with his back injury,” Stefanski said. “We were hopeful that he’d be able to move around well enough to suit up on Saturday, excuse me, on Sunday. But, put him through a pre-game warm up, and obviously just didn’t feel like he was ready to play, but he’s getting better every day and I’m hopeful that he’ll continue to improve.”
However, after the game, Sanders said it wasn’t his call to be inactive, and he felt like he was healthy.
“I guarantee I’m going to be good,” Sanders added.
It’s expected that Sanders will be the backup quarterback in Week 10.
Sanders Sends Message on Future With Browns
Although Sanders was inactive in Week 8, he sent a clear message about his future.
With Dillon Gabriel struggling, Sanders said he was staying in Cleveland so he could get ready.
“I’m not coming to CU homecoming, I can’t make it out there, I wish I could though. I just can’t happen, I got treatment out here. I gotta get ready, big ready,” Sanders said.
Immediately, many fans thought that meant he’s going to start games soon. But Stefanski has been adamant that this is Gabriel’s team going forward.
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