NOVEMBER 30: In the wake of the Browns’ loss on Sunday, Stefanski confirmed to little surprise (via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com) that Sanders will get the nod once again next week. His third consecutive start will come against the Titans.
NOVEMBER 29: 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
Of course they have a choice. Plenty of 1st round QB’S fail , no need to draft one and add to the list. JJ McCarthy , Anthony Richardson and Zach Wilson being the latest. They need playmakers and OL way before moving on from Sanders. Shedeur is perfectly capable of running this offense.
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…..
I really like Sampson’s game, but to suggest that he might have a higher upside than Judkins is insane. I say this as a Browns fan who unfortunately still commits three hours of every Sunday to watching them.
Sampson will have a productive career but he’s probably best suited as a third down/change of pace back, although he has the ability to be very good in that role. Judkins has the ability and the physicality to be a legitimate lead back for the next 6-8 years.
You’re fortunate that the Browns host San Francisco in a rain/snow game (with the added delight of Kevin Harlan doing the CBS telecast).
Don’t think the 49er faithful will be found inside the Dawg Pound.
Harlan is the best choice here.
I’m a Browns fan too. Judkins would really benefit from a better OL. Sampson is better then people think. Both could definitely be key backs for this team for years to come….
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.
In SD Brees was mid at best . SD didn’t give up on Brees moment he had an injury.
30-28
62% percentage
80 TDs 53 Ints in 5 seasons ( 16 TDs 11 Int averages)
They had just traded Eli Manning to the Giants for Phillip Rivers and other assets.
It was Rivers rookie season that Brees suffered a career threatening injury last game of the season against the Broncos
Chargers had two choices
Resign mid Drew Brees coming off a career threatening injury or roll with your top 5 QB on his rookie contract that you just drafted and sat for a year who had a more protoypical size and arm for a QB.
Turned out to be a win win for both Saints and Chargers netting a franchise caliber QB for many years for their respective franchise.
That is the most ridiculous comparison ive ever seen
News, late April, 2026: “The Cleveland Browns became the only team in NFL history to choose a quarterback with every draft pick this year…”
And still no viable QB1!
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…..
With better OL and skill players and an elite defense, a team can win with a marginal QB. Get a top WR and a OL in the first round and another OL in the 2nd round.
The Browns are definitely the right fit for the worst QB in the NFL
Geno Smith nor JJ McCarthy are Browns….and they are FAR worse then Sanders statistically….
I’d stick with Sanders too, but we should temper expectations with the fact that they played perhaps the worst team in the league right now. Still, you have to stick with Sanders after Gabriel’s pedestrian numbers.
Granted, the issues that led to that aren’t all on Gabriel, but this is very much a “roll with the hot hand” type of situation…even if the hand is actually just a bit lukewarm. In either case, it seems like Cleveland wants to protect their rookie QBs with few throws downfield, which is probably a pretty safe decision. This doesn’t close the door on us seeing Gabriel again, in my mind, but hopefully for Cleveland Sanders can use these last few games to build a good platform to be able to do more with the offense in the future.
Nah you gotta take Dante Moore, Pavia etc
Sanders is basically Mariotta , just a solid backup from what ive seen
Gabriel obviously backup material as well. Can prob trade him for a mid-round pick
Well, that’s next year. We’re talking this year. You hope for a leap from Sanders, though. You always want to see a player outplay expectations, even if it doesn’t seem likely.
Confucius say: “It cost man nothing to look…unless the wife catch him doing it”
Might as well. Season is done-zo, and browns need to soft reboot into a new era starting with walking away from Watsons hilariously horrendous contract
shedder got a candy arm, he ought to be in the mlb throwing change up,this kid don’t have no zip on football throws. He throws the balloon ball or many calls the rainbow throw. This kid ain’t got it to my eyes. Look they beat the raiders some team had to win last week.
I agree. He reminds me exactly of Russell Wilson
But current russell wilson, not prime Seattle Wilson
They don’t have much to lose. Is Deshaun Watson warming up on the sideline? Remember that guy? Nice trade!
“What else can we do?”
-Browns
Whenever Baker is feeling a little down, all he has to do is look at the Browns
even after today? stefanski and O’Connell are equally terrible with young quarterbacks
Shadeur Sanders is the bestest of all time! He’s doing fantastic!!! Just give him the MVP!
Good for him
Give him a bozo button.