Shedeur Sanders Left to Watch as Browns’ Last-Minute Victory Comes Without His Help
Shedeur Sanders had a chance to be the hero during the Cleveland Browns‘ preseason finale, but ended up watching from the sideline.
Sanders was inserted to start the second half of the team’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams. He had a pretty miserable time, getting sacked five times for 41 yards lost and notching just 14 passing yards.
The Rams scored just before the two-minute warning to take a one-point lead. It looked like Sanders would get a shot at redemption to help the Browns win the game. But Cleveland rolled with veteran Tyler “Snoop” Huntley, who is unlikely to make the 53-man roster.
“Obviously, we didn’t play great as an offense in the second half and that’s never on one person,” Stefanski said. “We can be better in a bunch of areas. Just felt like we wanted to give Snoop one last drive.”
Shedeur Sanders: ‘I Didn’t Know I was Out’
Sanders appeared to confront Stefanski on the sideline, pleading his case to go in.
“He’s a competitive kid,” Stefanski said. “The plan was to go with Snoop there. I wouldn’t make it anything more than that.”
Sanders said he was preparing to go into the game and was surprised he did not.
“I didn’t know I was out. I was on the bike, I was powering up for that two-minute drive. That’s a situation every quarterback dreams about,” Sanders said after the game. “That’s a situation I’ve been in before. I thought I was in but then he told me I wasn’t.”
It ended up working out for the Browns. Cleveland drove 46 yards and Andre Szmyt drilled a 47-yard field goal as time expired for the 19-17 victory. Still, the decision not to give Sanders the opportunity didn’t sit well with some.
“I’m not sure why the Browns have QB Snoop Huntley in there right now with the 900 quarterbacks on the roster,” NFL insider Josina Anderson wrote on X. “Unless Shedeur Sanders’ oblique is bothering him to the point of not playing, he should’ve had the 2-minute situation to see what he could do with it—despite the protection woes since he entered the game as the 3rd quarterback today. Oh, and there was no need to see Joe Flacco play today and take up valuable evaluation reps.”
Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel Thrive in Preseason Finale
While Sanders struggled, Joe Flacco — the Week 1 starter — and Dillon Gabriel thrived. Flacco completed 9-of-10 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown to rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. Gabriel played the majority of the second quarter, notching 129 yards and a score. Most of that production came on a well-executed two-minute drill before half.
Flacco is entering his 18th season but can recall being in Sanders’ shoes.
“I remember like yesterday. That’s part of being a rookie. You’re going to get thrown into situations that you don’t think are ideal. I got put into a game against New England with two minutes left, and I fumbled on the 1-yard line. They score two plays later,” Flacco said in his postgame press conference. “That was John Harbaugh’s first preseason game. He was not happy. I wasn’t happy either. But that’s part of the game and what makes a football player. Learning to deal with those situations. We’ve all been there. It’s part of the game.”
The Browns are expected to keep four quarterbacks — Flacco, Gabriel, Sanders and Kenny Pickett — on their 53-man roster. Cleveland opens the regular season on Sept. 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
