The Cleveland Browns delivered a clear message to Shedeur Sanders as he looks to move up the depth chart.
Sanders is the No. 3 quarterback for the Browns, a position that didn’t change when Cleveland named Dillon Gabriel their starting quarterback this week. He’s the emergency quarterback on game days. Sanders is inactive and only able to enter if both Flacco and Gabriel are injured.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski reiterated that Flacco â who started the first four games â will serve as the primary backup to Gabriel.
“Joeâs the backup. Shedeur is the emergency quarterback,” Stefanski said
So what does Sanders need to do to earn a bump on the depth chart?
“All of our players, and I include Shedeur in this, are working extremely hard. We just finished our period after practice that we do every single day, just finished a red zone 7-on-7 period where Shedeur and the rest of the younger guys are working on 10 reps,” Stefanski said. “So, he needs to continue to do exactly what heâs been doing and continue to do what all these guys are doing, which is just keep working.”
Shedeur Sanders’ Shot May Come Later With Browns
Getty ImagesCleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders did not get a depth chart promotion after Joe Flacco was benched.
Sanders has had a hard time earning opportunities in Cleveland. But if Gabriel is unable to spark the offense, Sanders’ shot could come later this season.
The Browns took Sanders in the fifth round, understanding that he’d be a developmental prospect. But he also has high upside, which made him a projected first-round pick before his draft tumble to No. 144.
There are a lot of things inside the Browns building that they like about Shedeur Sanders. His innate feel in a football game, they like his ability, they like how cool he is under pressure,â NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said on Thursday. âIt just doesnât seem, as of right now, that heâs ready to be a starting quarterback, which is okay. That was what they believed when they drafted him. Thatâs why he went in the fifth round. Will we get a look at him later in the season? It does sound like we probably will.â
Browns QB Dillon Gabriel Leaning on Experience
The hope for the Browns is that Gabriel can provide a lasting spark for the offense. Cleveland has been one of the worst offensive teams in the league, averaging just 14 points per game and committing turnovers at an alarming rate.
Gabriel comes with a decorated college resume and the Browns have seen him lean on that experience in his preparation for Sunday’s matchup in London against the Minnesota Vikings.
“I think all these guys are different, and with Dillon, heâs unique and heâs very mature. But also his college career was like no other in terms of experience, so he can lean on that experience in these situations,” Stefanski said. “Heâs got a lot of experience that he can lean on in these moments.”
Gabriel spent six seasons in college at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon. He’s the FBS all-time leader in total touchdowns (189) and starts (63).
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