Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin gushed about Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders ahead of their Week 17 matchup.
Sanders will start his sixth game of the season when the Steelers visit on Sunday. He’s gone 1-4 in his first five games but his growth has been evident, even with a patchwork offensive line and a lack of weapons around him.
Tomlin praised Sanders for the strides he’s made and the connection he’s built, particularly with other rookies on the roster.
“Shedeur is doing a really good job,” Tomlin said. “He’s growing and growing with each week from an outsider’s perspective. I think it’s always cool when you’re growing with company. I certainly, see him gravitating towards some young players whose roles are expanding since the last time we played them.”
The Steelers won the first matchup 23-9 back on Oct. 12. Dillon Gabriel, now the backup, started that game. He attempted a whopping 52 passes, recording 221 yards and no touchdowns.
Mike Tomlin Had Strong Review of Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Ahead of Draft
The Steelers were viewed as a potential landing spot for Sanders ahead of the draft, and Tomlin made it clear he came away impressed after studying his tape from Colorado.
“I think the things that stood out were evident in his video,” Tomlin said. “There’s a toughness there that doesn’t get talked about enough. There’s a competitive spirit there; it doesn’t get talked about enough. I know he’s very talented and made a lot of plays for his university and his team, but the intangible qualities displayed on tape were impressive to me.”
Sanders ended up slipping to the fifth round, where the Browns selected him with pick No. 144. The Steelers did draft a quarterback in the sixth round, selecting Will Howard out of Ohio State. Pittsburgh has rolled with 42-year-old veteran Aaron Rodgers as its quarterback this season.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Thankful for Opportunity
It’s been a winding journey for Sanders, filled with highs and lows. But the former Colorado star remains grateful for the path that brought him here — bumps and all.
“When I look back today and I look back at everything, I’m super appreciative that everything happened how it happened,” he said. “If I were to look back from the Ravens game to now … I would say I improved in experience. … Those are all building blocks to be able to have success.
“Sometimes you have to fail in certain areas, and I like the route that basically it took. I like how everything went because it’s a lot of great building blocks that I’m able to learn from when it comes to life, when it comes to just me being a part of the organization, everything.”
Sanders has said he isn’t looking too far down the road. The Browns, meanwhile, are expected to evaluate every option this offseason as they assess the future of the quarterback position. Sanders has already made a strong case to remain firmly in the mix. And with two games left, he still has time to strengthen it.
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