Shedeur Sanders is waiting patiently for his shot with the Cleveland Browns and vowed to be ready if his number is called.
The Browns drafted Sanders in the fifth round and he’s the most polarizing third-string quarterback in the NFL. The former Colorado star is sitting behind 40-year-old Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. Sanders has functioned as the emergency quarterback, only able to enter the game if Flacco and Gabriel are injured.
Sanders understands he still has some growth to do to adjust to the NFL level, but he is working hard to make the most of the opportunity he has in front of him.
“This is something my dad (Deion Sanders) used to say: ‘if you’re up there doing something every day, you better be getting better at it,” Sanders told cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. “So that’s how everything’s going. Everything we do in this building, it’s a learning thing. It’s learning every day. I’m in a great position to be sitting back, understanding the game plan, understanding everything that the NFL is.
“I’m ready for my opportunity whenever that happens. But in this time that I’m not out there physically playing, I would say I’m growing everywhere.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Taking Advantage of Scout Team Reps
The Browns have been using multiple quarterbacks to run their scout team, including Gabriel, Sanders and practice squad quarterback Bailey Zappe. For Sanders, those reps have become more than just practice—they’re his weekly stage.
“Whenever I get on scout team, that’s my game day,” Sanders said. “Everybody knows. So that’s me having a game every week. I look at it, I have six games a week, so I’m happy rather than just having one game a week, on the weekends. The scout team receivers, all of us, we all know every day is game day and we definitely approach everything in that fashion.”
During the scout team reps, Sanders gets to work against the Browns’ starting defense, which is one of the best in the league. It includes some notable names like Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward.
“Being able to go against the D-line every day is good because it helps me work on different things every day,” Sanders said. “It’s like tightening up my drop, not getting too deep in the pocket, being able to get through the read super like quickly, not like super fast because you’re going to miss stuff sometimes if you do that, but being able to narrow down on things.”
Browns Starting QB Debate Continues
Sanders appears to be a long shot to see the field this season. The Browns see him as a developmental project, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. However, the conversation has already started about how long the Browns will keep Flacco as the starter.
The 40-year-old has struggled to ignite an offense that’s been among the league’s most inconsistent. Flacco has appeared immobile in the pocket, prone to pressure, and has continued to turn the ball over — including two costly mistakes in the Browns’ 41-17 Week 2 loss to the Ravens.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees had a long conversation this week about potentially starting Gabriel against the Packers, per Brad Stainbrook.
Earlier this week, Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees spent much of Monday in meetings weighing whether to hand the job to Browns rookie Dillon Gabriel, per league sources,” Stainbrook reported.
If the Browns drop to 0-3 on Sunday, the decision may be much easier for the Browns.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Makes Feelings Clear on Future