If Bailey Zappe is more trustworthy to a team that has spent 25 years searching for competent QB play, then Cleveland should simply release Sanders
The Cleveland Browns will have decisions to make at quarterback.
Dillon Gabriel is the starting quarterback, but after the team traded Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals, the team needed a new backup. Shedeur Sanders is the only other quarterback on the roster, but Bailey Zappe could be signed to the practice squad.
If Zappe does become the backup quarterback, Browns insider Jason Lloyd urges Cleveland to simply release Sanders.
“But if Bailey Zappe — Bailey Zappe! — is more trustworthy to a team that has spent 25 years searching for competent quarterback play, then what are we really doing here?,” Lloyd
“McCord returned to Philadelphia on the practice squad,” Lloyd added. “The Browns are protecting Sanders on their 53-man roster so another team can’t pluck him off their practice squad, yet they’re about to promote Zappe from the practice squad ahead of him. When else has that ever happened?”
Lloyd believes Sanders has caused a ton of unnecessary media attention to the team, which is why he believes the team needs to make a move.“Cut him. Trade him. Whatever. Let him become someone else’s daily topic of conversation. At 1-4, the Browns have enough problems. Clearly, he isn’t viewed as one of the solutions,” Lloyd added.
Sanders ‘Thankful’ For Whatever Role He Has
Sanders has been the Browns’ third-string quarterback and has been running scout team practice.
The rookie quarterback has been inactive all season, but despite that, Sanders said he’s thankful for the role he has with the team.
“I’m in a great mental space overall,” Sanders said. “So I would say you tend to get a little bit more excited when you see a light at the end of the tunnel, for sure. … Whatever my role is here, I’m thankful. I’m happy just to do that.”
If Sanders is named the backup quarterback, he said the goal is to make sure Gabriel is ready Sunday.
“We’re going to make sure we do everything we can to make sure Dillon’s ready for the game,” Sanders said. “Whatever that means. Each and every day, even when Joe was the starter, preparing the right way and be ready to know that you could get out there at any point in time. I’m overly confident within myself. I know when I first got here, I’m ready to play, but it’s up to the coaches and whatever decision they make then, I’m fine with.”
The Browns take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road on Sunday.
Browns Coach Hasn’t Named Sanders The Backup
Despite Sanders being the only other quarterback on the roster, he hasn’t been named the backup.
Cleveland could promote Zappe to be the backup, so Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said he is still mulling over the backup quarterback job.
“Still working through all roster types of things,” Stefanski
“But with young players, I’m always thinking about last week, making the change to Dillon (Gabriel),” Stefanki added. “You have to think long and hard about that, because these are young players that you’re so invested in their development. So, I’ll let the week play out and make a decision later on.”
Regardless of who the backup is, Gabriel will be making his second career NFL start on Sunday.
NFL Expert Picks, Week 6: Will Bears get their Fail Mary revenge vs. Commanders?
The Chicago Bears have had Week 6's Monday night matchup against the Washington Commanders circled on their calendar the minute the 2025 NFL schedule was released.
It's the same Commanders team that sent Chicago's 2024 season into a tailspin after the infamous Fail Mary gave Washington a last-second victory in last year's Bears' post-bye game.
Yes, let's re-live the nightmare:
It's a play that continues to sting Bears fans. Players aren't immune to the pain, either. Especially cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who's still haunted by his failure in that moment.
"It still hurts because at the end of the day, I'm a football player," Stevenson said, via CHGO. "The last thing I want to do is have a play that's not so good and my name be memorable on top of all the good things I do, that could overshadow that. I just use it as motivation to come out and stay focused on all tasks, and definitely learned until the clock hit double zeroes."
Fortunately for Stevenson and the Bears, they get their chance at revenge on Monday Night Football.
It's a game that will feature Caleb Williams vs. Jayden Daniels, two of the NFL's bright young star quarterbacks, and could set up the winner for a legitimate playoff run later this season.
But what to the experts who are picking this game think will happen?
It's not great for the Bears.
NFL experts weigh in on Bears vs. Commanders game
According to NFL Pick Watch, 88% of experts polled think the Washington Commanders will win the game.
Yikes.
The biggest mismatch in this game is on defense, where the Commanders rank 9th in points allowed. The Bears, meanwhile, rank 28th.
Chicago's 31st-ranked run defense will be challenged by Washington's top-ranked rushing offense, which is a big reason why most experts think this game will end with a Commanders' win.
The rest of this contest is reasonably close. The Bears are 11th in scoring offense; the Commanders are 8th. Chicago is 14th in passing, the Washington is 23rd. The Bears' pass defense ranks 17th; The Commanders are 23rd.
Still, that massive mismatch between the Commanders' run game and the Bears' run defense is the key variable. If Chicago can level up and keep Jayden Daniels contained, they'll have a
