Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will make the second start of his career on Sunday against the 49ers. The team is open to giving Sanders an “extended look” as its starter beyond then, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
A fifth-round pick after a decorated career at Colorado, Sanders made his NFL debut when rookie third-rounder Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion in a Week 11 loss to the Ravens. Sanders completed just 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception in relief.
With Gabriel’s concussion holding him out last week, Sanders took the reins against the Raiders. After a full week receiving first-team reps, Sanders finished 11 of 20 for 209 yards, a touchdown, and a pick. The Browns picked up a 24-10 victory to improve to 3-8.
Although Gabriel cleared concussion protocol on Monday, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that he’s sticking with Sanders. Stefanski’s decision didn’t come as a surprise on the heels of a win with Sanders at the helm. Gabriel’s struggles when healthy surely made it an even easier choice for Stefanski.
The Browns stumbled to a 1-5 mark between Gabriel’s promotion to the starting role in Week 5 and his concussion. Gabriel only managed 116 passing yards in his lone win, a 31-6 blowout over the Dolphins in Week 7. The left-hander from Oregon has thrown seven touchdowns against two interceptions, but he has completed just 59.2% of passes and averaged a meager 5.1 yards per attempt. He ranks 31st among 33 qualifiers in QBR, beating out the Raiders’ Geno Smith and the Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy.
While Sanders didn’t exactly light it up against the Raiders, he doesn’t have a high bar to clear to outdo Gabriel’s output. It also helps that practice squad signal-caller Bailey Zappe is the only other healthy QB in the fold. It’s too early to say Gabriel won’t turn into an NFL-caliber starter, but he hasn’t looked the part yet. With that in mind, it makes sense for the out-of-contention Browns to give Sanders a longer look as they map out their future.
Assuming the Browns no longer regard the injured Deshaun Watson as the answer, they’ll need to find a franchise quarterback somewhere. If the Browns don’t believe they have one in Gabriel or Sanders when the offseason rolls around, they’ll have to consider upgrading in free agency, the trade market, and the draft. The 2026 rookie QB class hasn’t drawn rave reviews, but with the Browns set to enter the draft with two first-rounders (one from Jacksonville), that may be their best hope for a long-term solution.
they don’t really have a choice. their only other qb is a 5 foot 8 tik toker
It helps when you have an all-league defense combined with a workhorse halfback in Quinshon Judkins.
Judkins hasn’t proven workhorse status yet…but he eventually could…..Sampson might actually have a higher upside…..
As Purdue fan, I just can’t help but think of Drew Brees whenever people make sweeping judgments about QBs. He was too short to be drafted in round one despite his college accolades, and then San Diego gave up on him the moment he had an injury. And after the whole league decided he wasn’t a star other than the desperate Saints, he broke records, won a Super Bowl, and had a career that will land him in Canton.
I don’t know if Sanders will have a good career or not. All I know is everyone’s opinion is meaningless, and I’m glad he’ll get a chance to sink or swim in actual games on the field.
What a stupid report. A team is willing to give a rookie QB they drafted an “extended look”? No shit, Schefter. Noodle arm Gabriel ain’t it.
News, late April, 2026: “The Cleveland Browns became the only team in NFL history to choose a quarterback with every draft pick this year…”
As a Browns fan I pray we stick with Shedeur and give him time to develop. Trade Dillon and maybe sign Tyler Huntley this off season. The 2026 QB class is overhyped and throwing one of them into this offense isn’t moving the needle. Just roll with Shedeur and stop over thinking this whole QB thing….Shedeur is plenty talented to run our offense and succeed…..