The Cleveland Browns turned to Shedeur Sanders on Sunday as he made his NFL debut.
Dillon Gabriel was ruled out of the game as he was in concussion protocol. Sanders struggled in his debut, as it was the first time he was playing with the first team.
Although it was his first NFL outing, Browns insider Jason Lloyd of The Athletic claimed Sanders isn’t an NFL quarterback.
“There was never a conspiracy,” Lloyd wrote. “The Cleveland Browns are not actively trying to sabotage one of their own players. … Sanders certainly didn’t look like an NFL starting quarterback for most of his time on the field Sunday. That doesn’t mean he won’t ever get there. All of the criticisms of him, he holds the ball too long, he isn’t processing what he’s seeing.
“He runs out of the back of the pocket when pressured, were on full display in the second half. He was sacked twice, including on his opening possession, and Ravens defensive players celebrated by mocking him with his popular “wrist up” celebration.”
As Lloyd points out, Sanders struggled in his first outing, but that was the first time he played with the first-team offense, so the chemistry and timing weren’t there.
Sanders went 4-of-16 for 47 yards and an interception against the Baltimore Ravens.
Insider Shares Browns ‘Biggest Crime’ Against Sanders
Many Browns fans had been calling for Sanders to appear in a game, and they got their wish on Sunday.
Gabriel was injured, which resulted in Sanders getting into action. Although some people think the Browns set him up to fail, given that he didn’t take a rep with the first-team offense.
However, Lloyd believes the biggest crime the Browns committed was playing Sanders with this roster.
“His supporters will argue that Sanders was again set up to fail by not getting any first-team practice reps at any point in training camp and during the season,” Lloyd wrote. “The reality is the biggest crime committed by this franchise wasn’t holding him back, but rather exposing him to this by inexplicably trading both veteran quarterbacks off this roster.”
Lloyd believes this should have been a redshirt year for Sanders, who should have been the third-stringer all season. But, Cleveland traded away Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, which forced Gabriel and Sanders to play this season.
Sanders Frustrated With His First Outing
Sanders came in relief of Gabriel, who was in concussion protocol.
The rookie quarterback struggled as he held the ball too long and made some bad throws. Following the game, Sanders made it clear that he didn’t play well.
“I don’t think I played good, I don’t think I played good at all,” Sanders said. “I think there’s a lot of things we need to look at during the week. Just get comfortable with even throwing routes with Jerry (Jeudy) and throwing routes with all those guys.
“I think that was my first ball to him all year. But other than that, I just think overall, we just got to go next week and understand, so that we have a week to prepare stuff I like to do.”
If Gabriel isn’t cleared by concussion protocol, Sanders will start on Sunday.
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