Shedeur Sanders issued an apology to Dillon Gabriel after the Cleveland Browns’ 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
During the game, Sanders got injured as his pinky was torn up and bleeding. It was a gruesome scene, and while he was getting checked out, Gabriel entered the game for Sanders.
Although Sanders was able to return, the rookie quarterback apologized for putting Gabriel in that situation.
“You can look online and see what my finger looked like,” Sanders said postgame. “I’m sure they got the details there. … I threw Quinshon a little route then. I was like damn. It was over with. I did everything to come back because I didn’t want to put Dillon in a bad situation.
“When I was the (backup), it’s tough. It’s tough to play that role because you don’t get reps. I said, ‘my bad bro’ for putting you in that situation. It’s not ideal and I want him to be prepared for when he is out there.”
In Gabriel’s only snap of the game, he entered with the Browns being 3rd and goal from the five-yard line, and he was sacked for a loss of two. Cleveland ended up having to settle for a field goal, and by the time the Browns got the ball back, Sanders was ready to go back out there.
Sanders finished the game going 20-of-29 for 157 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
Browns Head Coach ‘Proud’ of Shedeur Sanders
Sanders battled the pinky injury to stay in the game and kept Cleveland in the game.
The Browns nearly pulled off the upset against the Bills, and head coach Kevin Stefanski was ‘proud’ of Sanders and the game he played.
“Yeah, he battled like he does, I thought he made some unbelievable plays with his feet today, which I thought going in the game that may be the case,” Stefanki said. “He’ll fight through injuries, little finger injury’s not going to keep him out of there, but always room to grow for a young player, but really proud of how he fought.”
Sanders also rushed for 49 yards as he was able to keep drives alive with his legs. After another good showing, Sanders will remain the Browns’ starting quarterback next week when Cleveland takes on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sanders Explains Change in Mentality
Against the Bills, Sanders tried to be more effective as he knows he has to take what the defense is going to give him.
Sanders said getting more completions is key for the Browns’ offense, and he was glad to show he can do that.
“It’s just a mental thing. It was kind of like, understand that winning in this game, in the league is play by play. So you got to play each play for what it is,” Sanders said. “And don’t try to do a lot, you know, and try to take what’s there and try to do that. So oftentimes, like in the past now, I want to win. So I’m trying to get to it instead of like, slow down. Take the check down. Take what’s in front of you, take the easy stuff, do what you got to do.
And as the game goes on and as time goes on, you’re going to be able to chop it down, you’re going to be able to move the ball, keep getting completions. So it was just a mentality. It was just something like that. I just had to like, focus on mentally and, that in the aspect of when to get to it.”
The Browns are now 3-12 on the season.
Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Explains Why he Apologized to Dillon Gabriel After Loss