The NFL has issued discipline for an incident involving Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders during the final week of the season.
Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson was fined $5,525 for a hit on Sanders in the second quarter of the game. With the Browns near their own goal line, Johnson jumped up to attempt to deflect the pass but instead hit Sanders in the head.
Johnson was able to get to Sanders during the matchup, taking him down for one of the Bengals’ six sacks. However, it was Sanders and the Browns prevailing, using a 49-yard field goal from Andre Szmyt to seal a 20-18 victory.
The matchup wasn’t one of Sanders’ more impressive outings. He finished with just 111 yards on 11 of 22 passing and no touchdowns.
Browns Players Also Hit With Fines
A couple of Browns players were also hit with fines from the season finale. Both linebacker Devin Bush and cornerback Sam Webb were fined for celebrations on their defensive touchdowns. Bush was fined $10,000, while Webb was assessed a $6,111 penalty.
Both were flagged 15 yards for their celebrations during the game. It resulted in some long extra points but Szmyt nailed both.
It wasn’t all bad news for Bush. He earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his standout performance against the Bengals, highlighted by the 97-yard pick-six of Joe Burrow. Bush also racked up 14 tackles, putting a bow on his resurgent season with a statement performance.
“Devin has done a really good job over the last year and a half of giving himself to the system – being able to play on edges, using his hands,“ Browns linebackers coach Jason Tarver said recently. ”We asked him to walk up in man coverage, and he’s really only had a few times all year that his eyes have been wrong in some hard situations. He’s playing with his hands.
“He is flexible and strong in his lower body and by being on edges of blockers more, he’s able to bend and slip and slide through things. So, he’s really been able to maximize his great football feel with how he fits in the defense.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Facing Uncertainty
Sanders started the final seven games of the season. Over that stretch, he threw for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He finished 3-4 as a starter, closing the year with back-to-back wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals.
Still, Sanders enters the offseason facing uncertainty about his future in Cleveland. The Browns stopped short of committing to him as part of their long-term plans.
“We’re going to do our work on the quarterback market,” Browns GM Andrew Berry said. “It’s too important of a position and it’s something that has to be solidified. I can’t sit here and tell you today whether the solution for, or the starter in 2026 is internal or external. But it’s something that we’re going to work through over the next several weeks. And quite honestly, the new head coach will also have a lot of input into that as well.”
Sanders, however, said he isn’t spending time worrying about decisions outside of his control.
“I think I did what I was able to do, and I definitely grew from a lot of things,” Sanders said. “I got experience now. Confidence-wise, I’m there. But that’s not in my hands. That’s not my decision. I can’t speak on what other people feel.”
NFL Issues Discipline Connected to Browns QB Shedeur Sanders