Shedeur Sanders Fires Warning Shot Over Browns’ QB Situation
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is ready to play now and finds some of the quarterback situations around the league laughable.
The Browns took a swing on Sanders in the fifth round, selecting him at No. 144 overall and finally halting his slide down the draft board. Once projected as a potential first-round pick, Sanders endured the biggest tumbles of the weekend before Cleveland ended the wait.
Sanders has been working as the Browns’ No. 3 quarterback, behind 40-year-old starter Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. He’s been inactive for the first three weeks, serving as the emergency quarterback.
Much has been made of Sanders’ development as a long-term project for Cleveland, but he believes that if called upon, he’s ready to perform at a high level.
“I don’t think playing or not playing is in my head. Based on the situation, if things happen and it turns out that I play, then I’ll be out there and I’ll be ready to play,” Sanders said, per ESPN Cleveland. “I’m ready to play right now.”
The comments from Sanders come after his famous father, Deion Sanders, went on Jason and Travis Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast. Deion said he feels like Shedeur will get a shot to prove himself this season with the Browns.
“Be patient and be ready,” Deion Sanders said of his advice for Shedeur. “You got to be ready when it’s time. But when it’s time, you’re going to know. And it’s coming up. I got a prediction. I ain’t telling nobody. I got a feeling when it’s going to go down. But it’s going to go down this year. … He’s going to get a shot.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Calls Out Poor QB Play
There’s been some poor quarterback play around the league, which Sanders has taken notice of. He didn’t name anyone in particular, but he feels like he would be a step up from what he’s seen.
“I know if you see the quarterback play in the league right now, I’m capable of playing better than that,” Sanders said.
The Browns have not had a dynamic offense through three weeks and the quarterback play has been sub-par. Flacco ranks 28th in QBR (37.5) and has passed for 631 yards, just two touchdowns and four interceptions.
However, the Browns have chosen to stick with Flacco and he’ll log his fourth start against the Detroit Lions on Sunday with Cleveland attempting to move to 2-2.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders: ‘A Lot of Teams Would Be Playing Me’
Every team in the league passed on Sanders in the draft — more than once. He eventually landed in Cleveland, where he’s been stuck behind Flacco and Gabriel on the depth chart. It’s been reported that Sanders told the Baltimore Ravens not to draft him because he didn’t want to be stuck behind two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.
Sanders believes that if he were with another franchise, there’s a good chance he’d already be seeing significant playing time.
“The situation is obvious. A lot of teams would be playing me but that’s not in God’s plan right now. Some things happen for a reason, and I’m a true believer in that,” Sanders said. “Whatever his plan is for me, I believe in it. I don’t feel stressed or bad about this situation I’m in right now. It’s just funny to me. I just enjoy it.
“Overall, I feel like I’m doing great, doing what I need to do each and every day. I remain focused with my mind on completing the mission and not really getting comfortable. I’m not comfortable being a scout team player, honestly. That’s my situation, so I’m going to make the best of it and enjoy my moments. This isn’t my end goal. I’m just enjoying myself, learning and doing everything I have to do. Just ready for my opportunity.”
The Browns will head to London after facing the Lions to see the Minnesota Vikings.
Shedeur Sanders Could Be Traded Before He Ever Plays
NFL insider Tony Rizzo doesn’t expect Shedeur Sanders to last the entire season with the Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland took Sanders in the fifth round, and he has been the emergency third-string quarterback to begin the season. With Sanders not seeing the field and also being behind rookie Dillon Gabriel, his path to playing time is murky.
With that, Browns insider Tony Rizzo expects Cleveland to trade Sanders before the trade deadline to get an asset back.
“I don’t (think Sanders plays this season),” Rizzo said on
Although the Browns just drafted him, perhaps Cleveland would flip Sanders for an asset if they don’t feel like he will contribute to playing time.
Rizzo believes a team could trade a mid-round pick for Sanders to add depth to the quarterback room, especially if there is an injury.
But, given that Sanders fell in the draft, it’s uncertain if another team would be interested in trading for him this season.
Sanders Believes He Can Play Right Now
Sanders has yet to get into NFL game action this season, but he’s confident he can play.
The rookie quarterback is confident in his skills, as he believes he is better than some starting quarterbacks right now.
“I know for sure, I know if you see the quarterback play in the league right now, I know I’m capable of doing better than that,” Sanders
Although Sanders is third on the quarterback depth chart, he says he isn’t thinking about that. Instead, he’s just focusing on getting better so when the time comes, he is prepared.
“I don’t think playing or not playing is in my hands,” Sanders said. “If things happen, things pan out where I play, then I’ll be out there and I’ll be ready to play. I’m ready to play right now.”
Sanders was selected 144th overall.
Browns Confident in Flacco
Despite Cleveland’s offensive struggles, the Browns are remaining with Flacco as the starting quarterback.
Ahead of Week 4, Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees remains confident in the veteran. But, he knows Flacco needs to get more comfortable with the offense to truly take it to the next level.
“Just got to get him comfortable, like, probably felt comfortable early a couple weeks ago. Haven’t been able to get back into rhythm again,” Rees said. “Our job as coach is to get him feeling comfortable and confident and, we’ve been working at that. He’s not a guy that gets real up and down, so you wouldn’t sense any of that, but just in the course of the game, allowing him to feel confident that he can rip it and really that’s our job as coaching staff to make sure that we get him there.”
Flacco has thrown for 631 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions.
