The Cleveland Browns should have several options if they decide to move rookie QB Shedeur Sanders ahead of the NFL’s November 4 trade deadline, with another potential landing spot materializing over the weekend.
The Cincinnati Bengals lost Joe Burrow for up to three months following a turf toe injury he suffered against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, September 14, which will require surgery to repair.
ESPN sources: Bengals QB Joe Burrow will need toe surgery that will sideline him a minimum of three months,” Adam Schefter reported via X on Monday.
The Bengals have been calling around to other free-agent quarterbacks since after Joe Burrow’s injury, knowing they will have to add at least one more to their roster,” Schefter continued in a follow-up post.
Cincinnati has also inquired about potential trades for QBs, as the free-agent market is thin, with players like Taylor Hienicke and John Wolford among the most accomplished available.
Easton Butler of Packer Report posted to X Monday that the Bengals have reached out to the Green Bay Packers about the availability of backup Malik Willis. Given that, it isn’t beyond possible that the team might extend a phone call to the Browns regarding Sanders.
Joe Flacco Likely to Remain Browns’ QB1 for Several Weeks, Succeeded First by Dillon Gabriel
GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
Cleveland is 0-2 and Joe Flacco remains the starter with the Packers coming to town for a tough Week 3 matchup. Rookie backup Dillon Gabriel has gotten one drive thus far, which came in garbage time against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported via the Monday edition of the “Orange and Brown Talk Podcast” that neither Gabriel or Sanders is likely to see much real action, let alone earn a start, until the Browns clear the next three or four games remaining in what is a brutal stretch of schedule to open the season.
“The more that I think about this right now, they’re heading into a very grueling stretch. I just don’t think now is the time to do it,” Cabot said. So I agree with the decision to stick with Joe Flacco for now, but it’s going to get to the point at some time this season where they’re going to say, ‘Alright, let’s see what these rookies can do.’”
Browns Aren’t Currently Using Shedeur Sanders as Even Typical QB3 in Practice Sessions
GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
It is clear that the Browns favor Gabriel over Sanders.
If Flacco plays until Week 6 or Week 7, then Gabriel gets his run, it could be well beyond the trade deadline before Sanders sees any real action — if he does at all. It’s also feasible that Gabriel could play well enough that Sanders only gets garbage-time work himself down the stretch.
Reports coming out of Cleveland indicate Sanders isn’t running the scout team as the third-string quarterback, which is typically that player’s job.
“I’m hearing Shedeur isn’t even running scout team, he’s literally watching everyone,” Tony Rizzo of ESPN Cleveland said last week. “Why is he on the team? Why is he here?”
Even if Sanders gets time this year, he’ll have to beat out Gabriel and likely dodge Cleveland drafting a top QB in the 2026 class to have a reasonable chance at a long-term future with the Browns. They own their own first-round pick and Jacksonville’s. One of those selections, or both combined, should get Cleveland in the game for a top pick, which might spell the end of Sanders’ tenure with the team anyway.
As such, it could make sense to try and take advantage of an opportunity to get mid- or late-round draft value for Sanders now via a trade with a team like Cincinnati, which has a relatively viable starting option in Jake Browning but is only one injury away from having next to nothing in the QB room.
Familiar Browns’ Rival Emerges as Trade Partner for Shedeur Sanders