Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Gets Bad News in Push for Starting Job

Shedeur Sanders impressed in his debut with the Cleveland Browns, but the fifth-round rookie is still a long shot to win the starting job, per a prominent insider.

Sanders capitalized on his opportunity in the spotlight during a 30-10 preseason victory against the Carolina Panthers on Friday. He passed for 138 yards and two touchdowns while completing 61 percent of his passes.

Sanders is competing with Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel for the starting job. He was behind all three on the initial depth chart. Only Sanders and newly signed veteran Tyler Huntley suited up for the preseason tilt against the Panthers.

Sanders was able to quiet some of his critics with his performance but the reality that he’ll win the starting job out of the gate is still unlikely, per Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com

“The truth is, while the start was exciting and promising, Sanders is likely still a longshot to beat out Joe Flacco and win the starting job out of the gate,” Cabot said on Sunday. “Granted, he brought the juice and gave the Browns a much-needed spark, but he still has a long way to go before he can go head-to-head with Burrow in the opener and then venture into M&T Bank Stadium against the Ravens’ vaunted defense and play as fast as he’d need to.”

Browns Offer No Clues in QB Competition After Sanders’ Big Night

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has not offered any hints on how Sanders’ solid performance has impacted the quarterback competition. The Browns’ skipper is more focused on the health of his quarterback room, with Gabriel and Pickett both dealing with hamstring injuries.

“We need to get through the next couple of days from injury standpoint, and see where everybody is,” Stefanski said. “I’m really focused on all of our quarterbacks’ development and every single one of these reps last night, how important they are. So that’s what I’m focused on more than anything.”

Stefanski did offer some praise for Sanders, who he said would receive “a ton” of reps this week. Sanders has yet to work with the starting offense in training camp.

“We have a standard for that position and really every position, but certainly the quarterback position,” Stefanski said. “There’s a standard by which we play and how we play and how we operate and how we take care of the football and those type of things. So there are things that Shedeur can clean up, he will clean up, but by and large I thought the operation was really good and that’s important when you have different guys in there.”

Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Still Focused on Growth

Sanders played well but he admitted after the game that there is room for improvement.

“Did I play up to par? No, I don’t feel like I did,” he said. “But overall, the main goal was to win, and that’s honestly what we did.”

Sanders’ composure was evident in his debut, handling the high-pressure spotlight with poise. With plenty of eyes on him, he remained calm and in control while efficiently running the Browns’ offense.

“I’m comfortable with being uncomfortable, so that’s what it is,” Sanders said. “I got pockets of finding my rhythm, and I got to get into that quicker, regardless of anything. But overall, I felt like me out there, and I couldn’t do it, of course, without the time. I couldn’t do it without the playcalling. I couldn’t do without anything.”

The Browns will have joint practices with the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles this week. The sides will face off in a preseason matchup on August 16.