On Tuesday, Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reported Shedeur Sanders is expected to start in the Cleveland Browns’ first preseason game on Friday. Sanders is currently the fourth QB on the Browns’ depth chart, but fellow Browns quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett are battling injuries.
Browns veteran quarterback Joe Flacco isn’t expected to play in the preseason game, thus leaving the team’s offense in Sanders’ hands. During Thursday’s episode of First Take, Stephen A. Smith questioned the Browns’ decision to shove Sanders into the spotlight when he hasn’t been receiving first-team practice reps.
“He’s being set up to fail,” Smith said. “There’s been 11 practices, if I remember correctly. He’s been playing against the third unit. He’s fourth on the depth chart, and then suddenly you throw him into the starting lineup, and he hasn’t had any reps with the first team at all. Think about that.
“So you just gonna throw him to the wolves like that, huh? I mean, if he had first-team snaps in practice, I don’t say that. But he doesn’t. And then all of a sudden, he’s starting tomorrow night. It’s like you want him to fail. I’m not accusing the coaches of doing this. I’m not accusing the GM of doing this. But that owner, Mr. Haslam, that’s a different animal right there.”
Smith’s suspicion toward Haslam is due to the owner’s previous comments about Sanders. When reporters asked Haslam about the Browns’ decision to draft Sanders in the fifth round of the NFL Draft, Haslam distanced himself from the move.
“That’s (Browns general manager) Andrew Berry’s call. Andrew made the call to pick Shedeur, just like who’s going to start or what play we’re going to call is Kevin (Stefanski’s) call,” Haslam said. “But that’s Andrew’s call. He made the call… If you just told me Friday night driving home, y’all are going to pick Shedeur, I would say, ‘That’s not happening.’”
ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi previously reported that Shedeur Sanders isn’t receiving any first-team reps at practice and has even been forced to throw against equipment staff members. Despite the obstacle, Sanders has maintained an optimistic perspective throughout training camp.
“It doesn’t make me feel down or left out because I know who I am as a person,” Sanders said. “I know who I am as an individual, and I know what I could bring to this team. So, I can never feel less than any circumstance.”
Shedeur Sanders will make his preseason debut for the Browns on Friday at 7 p.m. ET against the Carolina Panthers. The game will air live on the NFL Network.
Myles Garrett reacts to Shedeur Sanders starting Browns’ preseason opener
Browns star Myles Garrett reacted to Shedeur Sanders earning the start for Cleveland's upcoming preseason opener.
It was recently reported that QB Shedeur Sanders will start the Cleveland Browns' preseason opener on Friday night against the Carolina Panthers. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski later confirmed the report. On Wednesday, Myles Garrett reacted to the news, via the Browns.
“He's funny, optimistic, light-hearted,” Garrett, a star defensive end, said of the QB. “But he works hard. He takes it seriously, his craft. And he's watching what the others are doing. Doing it his own way in which only he can. Looking forward to seeing him during these preseason games and how he manages the offense. He looks good, but all the guys look good right now.”
Sanders is looking to make the most of the opportunity. In all reality, he is likely fourth on the Browns' depth chart, trailing Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel. Pickett and Gabriel are dealing with injuries at the moment, however.
At 40 years old, Flacco isn't the long-term option at the position. Pickett is only 27 but he's endured an up and down start to his NFL career. Gabriel, 24, displayed signs of promise at Oregon but he is not guaranteed to emerge as a star at the NFL level.
In other words, the door is open for Sanders to move up the depth chart within the next couple of seasons. Sure, he probably won't start games in 2025 (although anything is possible), but a strong preseason would at least give Cleveland something to seriously think about.
Sanders, a 23-year-old quarterback, enjoyed a strong college football career. He played at Jackson State before joining his father, Deion, at Colorado. Despite playing well, Sanders surprisingly fell in the draft to the 144th overall pick (fifth round).
Shedeur Sanders is hoping to prove his doubters wrong, something he will attempt to begin doing on Friday in the Browns' preseason opener.
