Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Gets Bad News Ahead of Week 5
The Cleveland Browns reiterated on Thursday that Shedeur Sanders will not be bumped up to the backup spot after Dillon Gabriel was named the new starting quarterback.
The Browns are making the move to Gabriel this week, benching 40-year-old veteran Joe Flacco after a disappointing 1-3 start. Some assumed the benching of Flacco would lead to Sanders taking over the primary backup role.
However, the Browns are going to leave Sanders as the No. 3, emergency quarterback option, which he has occupied for the first four weeks of the season. Sanders is only able to enter the game if both Gabriel and Flacco are injured.
Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees spoke about the decision to put Flacco in the backup role ahead of the team’s Week 5 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in London.
“Just feel like Joe’s gonna stay the No. 2 right now and has done a lot to prepare and be ready to go in a pinch,” Rees said.
Browns Confident Dillon Gabriel Can Provide Spark
The Browns‘ offense struggled mightily with Flacco under center. Cleveland is averaging just 14 points per game and explosive plays have been hard to come by. Flacco also turned the ball over eight times — six interceptions and two lost fumbles — through four games. It was a significant part of the decision to bench him.
“Look, we all got to play better at a lot of positions. This is not singular just to the quarterback position. You know, we’ve all got to do our part around him, coaches included,” Rees said. “I felt like it was an opportunity to make the change, and really looking at it as a way to spark the offense and get things going.”
Gabriel is not known as a mobile quarterback. But he will bring a different element to the offense than Flacco, who struggled to work outside of the pocket or against pressure.
“You want to build what you do around a certain guy’s skill set, make them feel comfortable, put them in positions that gives them a certain level of confidence in what they’re operating,” Rees said. “There’s certainly some things that Dillon does that are different; certain things that Joe does are different. It’s our job as coaches to put them in that position.”
Browns QB Joe Flacco Taking Benching in Stride
Flacco’s career as a starter is likely over after being benched. He couldn’t recreate the magic he had with the Browns in 2023, which helped lead Cleveland to the postseason.
Despite the setback, Flacco has been supporting Gabriel as he prepares for his first NFL action.
“I think the best way to help him is just continue to come to work with a good mindset every day and provide that positive energy and see what he needs on his end,” Flacco said. “He’s ready to go. I’m sure he’s super excited about this opportunity. You can tell he takes it seriously just by the way he studies, his intent in the meeting rooms and on the practice field.”
The Browns are a 3.5-point underdog in London for the matchup with the Vikings, per ESPN BET.
Pittsburgh Steelers Make Contingency Plans for Jalen Ramsey's Injury Crisis
With Pittsburgh Steelers
“I think it’s like any time you lose a starter. You’re gonna have to work through those things,” Austin said. “But, right now, it’s typical. It happens because you have to deal with it every year. Most of the time, it’s not the same starting unit out there all 17 games. So we’ll work our way through it if it shows up that way. We’ll figure it out.”
Ramsey's Injury Timeline
Ramsey's injury vs. Minnesota occurred near the end of the third quarter while he was covering wide receiver Jordan Addison. He was seen grabbing his hamstring and headed to the blue medical tent before later returning to the game in the fourth quarter.
The 30-year-old was not on the field during the Vikings' last offensive drive of the contest, however, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac later reported that he is expected to miss several games once the
Other CB Injuries
Pittsburgh's cornerback room has been shorthanded for nearly the entire campaign, with Joey Porter Jr. having been out for each of the team's last three games after sustaining a hamstring injury in Week 1 against the New York Jets.
Brandin Echols also went down with an injury in the fourth quarter vs. Minnesota, though he later explained that he was just dealing with cramping in his calves and that he'll be good to go against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6.
Darius Slay Jr., who sustained a leg contusion vs. the New England Patriots in Week 3 and has battled through numerous other minor ailments this season, was also pulled against the Vikings with an undisclosed injury after being seen grabbing at his side. He'd later return to the contest, though, and it doesn't appear his availability will be impacted moving forward.
Possible Ramsey Replacements
In the event that Ramsey has to miss a handful of games, which seems likely at this point, Slay and Echols will continue shouldering heavy workloads while the
James Pierre, who logged 23 defensive snaps vs. Minnesota according to Pro Football Focus, should also remain a rotational piece for
Beanie Bishop Jr., who started six games as an undrafted rookie last year and came away with four interceptions, could also take on some nickelback responsibilities as a potential elevation candidate from the practice squad.
