Shedeur Sanders’ first starting action of the preseason will have to wait a little longer.
The Cleveland Browns’ matchup against the Buffalo Bills was suspended due to lightning after just 85 seconds of game action Saturday at Huntington Bank Field. The Bills had the ball at Cleveland’s 41-yard line with 13:35 remaining in the first quarter when both teams were sent to their locker rooms.
No official restart time was immediately announced. Under the NFL’s lightning protocol, play cannot resume until at least 30 minutes have passed since the most recent lightning strike in the area. Each additional strike resets that clock. The teams will also need time to warm up before returning to game action.
UPDATE: Players from both teams went back on the field to warm up at 2 pm ET. The game is set to resume at 2:15 ET.
The game will resume with the score tied 0-0 and Buffalo facing first-and-10 at the Browns’ 41-yard line. Kyle Allen completed his only attempt for 18 yards before the delay.
Shedeur Sanders Facing Critical Opportunity
GettyHead coach Todd Monken of the Cleveland Browns watches warmups before a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field.
Sanders had not taken the field before the game was stopped. He is scheduled to play the first half as he attempts to make a late push in the Browns’ quarterback competition.
The opportunity carries significant weight for Sanders. Head coach Todd Monken indicated before the game that a decision between Sanders and Deshaun Watson is coming quickly.
“I do not anticipate the QB decision going past early of next week,” Monken said during the Browns’ pregame show on 92.3 The Fan.
Watson received the first start of the preseason and completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards in a 34-10 loss to the Chicago Bears. He did not throw a touchdown or an interception but lost a fumble when he was sacked.
Sanders took over in the third quarter and completed 6 of 11 attempts for 79 yards with one interception.
Saturday’s start was supposed to give Sanders an extended chance to state his case. However, he will be working without many of Cleveland’s established starters after they logged significant snaps during Thursday’s joint practice against Buffalo.
Browns Have One Preseason Game Remaining
GettyDeshaun Watson #4, Shedeur Sanders #2 and Dillon Gabriel #6 of the Cleveland Browns take the field prior to a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field.
The matchup against Buffalo is the second of Cleveland’s three preseason games.
The Browns opened the preseason with a lopsided loss to Chicago on August 15. They will close the exhibition schedule against the New England Patriots on Thursday, August 27, at home again.
Monken could have his starting quarterback named before that game. The preseason finale could give the selected starter an opportunity to prepare for Week 1 or allow the Browns to focus on evaluating the rest of their quarterback room and roster. With four quarterbacks on the depth chart, Cleveland will have to make some decisions beyond who is the starter.
Monken has indicated that sixth-round rookie Taylen Green will see his first action of the preseason against the Patriots.
Cleveland opens the regular season on Sunday, September 13, against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road.
Why is the Browns-Bills Game Delayed Today? When Will it Start?