Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Gets Bad News on Cut-Down Day

The Cleveland Browns have officially unveiled their quarterback depth chart for Week 1, relegating Shedeur Sanders to the No. 3 spot behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel.

It’s the expected move by the Browns, who selected Gabriel in the third round and Sanders in the fifth. Gabriel had received more first-team reps than Sanders during camp and has been ahead of him virtually from the get-go despite a lot of outside noise.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski made the depth chart decision official on Tuesday after avoiding the question for most of the preseason.

“It’s such an all-encompassing evaluation,” Stefanski said. “Everything the guys did in the games was important, but we also saw a lot of them out here in practice. How they are at their craft, and [Gabriel] is certainly someone we think is getting better and better.”

Browns Rookies Will Likely Get Shot This Season

In the No. 3 role, Sanders will likely suit up on game days as the emergency quarterback, available only if Gabriel and Flacco are injured.

There’s been a lot of chatter about the Browns “sabotaging” Sanders after his final preseason performance. He completed just three passes and was sacked five times. The Browns also decided to pull Sanders for a final two-minute drive that would have potentially given him something positive to go home with.

“Obviously I don’t concern myself with outside type of things, but I’m committed to his development, just like all of our rookies,” Stefanski said of Sanders. “So, we’ll continue to focus on getting our guys better, and that’s what we’ll stay committed to, and that’s what’s important to me.”

While the 40-year-old Flacco is locked in as the Week 1 starter, the Browns are expected to give their rookie quarterbacks a look at some point this season. Owner Jimmy Haslam acknowledged that the organization needs to evaluate its young passers before next year’s draft. Cleveland holds two first-round picks, which could be used to secure its long-term franchise quarterback if the current options don’t pan out.

Browns Thinned Out QB Room With Kenny Pickett Trade

The Browns have trimmed their quarterback room in recent days, releasing Tyler Huntley and sending Kenny Pickett to the Raiders via trade. Cleveland had acquired Pickett in a March trade, but his stay was short-lived. The Browns were able to recover a fifth-round pick in the deal — the same price they initially paid to bring him in.

Pickett dealt with a hamstring injury for the majority of camp and did not participate in any of the preseason games. Still, Stefanski said it was a hard decision to cut ties.

“Honestly, those types of things you can’t predict. We got a strong offer for Kenny. He’s someone I think highly of, and so do they,” Stefanski said. “I wish him well. He’s a great person and a really good football player. But those are the decisions you have to make.”

The Browns will open their regular season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.