Browns Unexpected QB ‘Wrinkle’ Could Be Bad News for Shedeur Sanders
Much has been made about the Cleveland Browns quarterback situation and the potential of Shedeur Sanders replacing Dillon Gabriel as the starting quarterback for the 2-6 squad.
However, Ashley Bastock of cleveland.com could see practice squad Bailey Zappe and Deshaun Watson as complicating “wrinkles” in Cleveland’s eternally messy quarterback situation.
The Browns signed Zappe ahead of the season and he’s been on the practice squad. He was active last week as the backup in place of an injured Sanders. Zappe spent time with the Browns last season and started the meaningless season finale.
Watson is recovering from a twice-ruptured Achilles and is on the PUP list. He’s expected to be evaluated during the bye week, and the Browns will have to make a decision on whether or not to open his 21-day window for a return.
“I think there is another wrinkle that could happen. There are two other guys in that room,” Bastock said on 92.3 The Fan. I know no one wants to have the Deshaun Watson conversation but what if we come back from this bye week and they’re talking about opening his practice window? The reality is, they didn’t shut Deshaun Watson down for the entire year.
“Bailey Zappe is there. He’s started a football game for them. Shedeur is the backup quarterback when healthy, but you can never say never with this team and their quarterbacks, especially with two other veteran guys — that’s something to keep in mind, for sure.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Dealing With Back Injury
As the depth chart is currently constructed, Sanders would be the next logical option for the Browns if Gabriel continues to struggle. Through four starts, Gabriel is 1-3 and has passed for 702 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. What’s been concerning about Gabriel’s play is his lack of playmaking ability, averaging just 4.9 yards per attempt.
An unexpected factor for Sanders was a sudden back injury he suffered ahead of Week 8. He tested it pregame but the Browns decided to hold Sanders out. The fifth-round pick has made it clear that it wasn’t his decision not to suit up.
“He obviously came in Saturday with his back injury. We were hopeful that he’d be able to move around well enough to suit up on Sunday. But, put him through a pre-game warm up, and obviously just didn’t feel like he was ready to play,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “But he’s getting better every day and I’m hopeful that he’ll continue to improve.”
Stefanski also said that his “focus” is not on Sanders starting when the team comes out of the bye week for a Week 10 matchup against the New York Jets.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson Eager to Prove Doubters Wrong
Watson’s stay in Cleveland has been a disaster. Since arriving in 2022 via a blockbuster trade, Watson has a 9-10 record as the starter, passing for 3,365 yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Even when healthy, Watson has not looked nearly as good as the Pro Bowl talent he was with the Houston Texans.
The Browns have been forced to navigate the consequences of the trade, which included signing Watson to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract. Owner Jimmy Haslam called it a “swing and miss,” signaling how the team feels about Watson being a part of their future at the position.
However, Watson is still eager to return and prove his doubters wrong.
“Everyone is doubting me — everyone don’t believe in me,” Watson said in a social media video documenting his return. “Everyone don’t think I can get back to where I was. But I know, and I believe the work that I put in, that I believe in myself… I know, I’m gonna be way better than before.”
The odds are stacked against Watson. His performance was already declining before the severe injury that has sidelined him for more than a year. It’s unlikely he’ll factor into the quarterback decision in Cleveland. But never say never, especially with the Browns.
Blockbuster NFL Trade Proposal Ships Steelers $96 Million All-Pro to Fix Defense
The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired safety Kyle Dugger from the New England Patriots on Tuesday night. But if the Steelers are open to more trading, could they be a potential fit for a massive move for a lineman such as Quinnen Williams before the NFL trade deadline next week?
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox argued the Steelers could be. Knox named the team one of two potential suitors for Williams, who made first-team All-Pro in 2022.
“A three-time Pro Bowler with 40 sacks on his NFL resume, Williams is the sort of player who would land the Jets premium draft capital that could be used to chase a quarterback in 2026,” Knox wrote. “He won’t turn 28 until December, and he’s under contract through 2027.”
Williams has posted 32 combined tackles, including seven tackles for loss in eight games this season. He also has three forced fumbles, three quarterback hits and a sack.
However, the New York Jets defensive lineman wouldn’t come cheaply. Knox argued any trade proposal for Williams should begin with a 2026 first-round pick.
That’s why pundits are likely to see any move to acquire the Jets defensive lineman as a “blockbuster.”
The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, November 4.
How Quinnen Williams Could Fit With the Steelers
The Steelers saw first hand the kind of impact Williams can make. In Week 1 versus the Steelers, Williams registered three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, and one sack.
That’s the biggest impact the Jets defensive lineman has had on a game this season.
The Steelers offensive line had a slow start to the season, and it’s possible Williams’ big season opener was partly due to poor technique from Broderick Jones. The Steelers shouldn’t acquire Williams just because of what he did against them.
Having said that, according to the Pro Football Focus player grades, the 27-year-old has been the Jets’ best defender in 2025. He’s also been one of the top run defenders in the league this season.
The Steelers’ biggest defensive problem has been in pass coverage. But improving in run defense could help the unit dedicate more defenders against the pass.
At the very least, if Williams helped the Steelers shut down the run, Pittsburgh opponents would be one-dimensional.
Williams could improve the Steelers pass rush as well. He has recorded at least 5.5 sacks in each season since 2020.
Why the Steelers Shouldn’t Acquire Williams
Age hasn’t been a big concern for the Steelers while they’ve tried to find defensive improvements over the past couple years. But at some point, it has to become a concern.
While Williams is still on the right side of 30 (he turns 28 in December), he could be closer to his decline than his peak.
The Steelers defense arguably already has too many of those types of players. The unit has a lot of former All-Pros who aren’t playing at that level anymore in 2025. That’s likely due to age.
If this were the first veteran the Steelers were adding to their defense in quite some time, it wouldn’t be a big concern. But he’s not.
Trading a first-round pick and more selections would also very likely rule out the Steelers finding a future franchise quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
In March, the Steelers would still have Williams but potentially no quarterback if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t return.
Williams could be just the defensive lineman to fix multiple issues for the Steelers defense in 2025. But the team needs a youth movement along the defensive front, and adding Williams would come with just too big of a mortgage to be a good idea.
