Shedeur Sanders Predicted to Get One-Upped for Browns' Starting Job
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders finally made his NFL debut on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, but unfortunately, he didn’t help get them the win.
The Browns fell to the Ravens 23-16, and Sanders struggled in his first taste of NFL action. The Colorado alum completed 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards, he was sacked twice and threw one interception.
Sanders got the go-ahead to take over against the Ravens after Browns starter Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion and was ruled out for game. Sanders is also expected to start in the team’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, which means Sanders will have to worry about star defensive end Maxx Crosby, who leads his team with six sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
If Sanders isn’t able to rise to the occasion again, or even if he is, there’s a good chance the Browns will be looking at drafting yet another signal-caller in the 2026 NFL draft. Alex Kay of Bleacher Report has an idea of who could step in and potentially be the franchise quarterback that the Browns have wanted for years.
Kay notes that “it’s already become clear that a good chunk of NFL teams have a quarterback problem that will need to be addressed during the 2026 offseason.” For the Browns, he seems them drafting Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers.
“The Browns can’t afford to whiff if they decide to take a crack at a first-round quarterback prospect for the first time since selecting Baker Mayfield at No. 1 overall in 2018,” Kay stated. “With Cleveland trending towards becoming the first of many QB-needy squads to go on the clock during the 2026 draft, Fernando Mendoza would be the optimal choice.”
Mendoza has gained plenty of attention leading Indiana to an 11-0 record and No. 2 national ranking in the AP top 25 poll.
“He’s accomplished this while completing an impressive 73 percent of his passes for 2,641 yards and an absurd 30 touchdowns,” Kay added.
Kay even says that the Cleveland Browns “shouldn’t hesitate” to snag Mendoza as the No. 1 overall pick and “hand him the keys to their offense.”
Alex Ovechkin’s scoring streak sets the stage for a blockbuster matchup as the Capitals host Connor McDavid and the Oilers - a clash of two NHL icons
Alex Ovechkin is starting to heat up again.
The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer has tallied in back-to-back games and three times in his last four contests for the Washington Capitals.
Fresh off recording his 903rd career NHL goal, Ovechkin will look to continue his good fortune on Wednesday when the Capitals host fellow superstar captain Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
Ovechkin scored what proved to be his 150th game-winning goal in the regular season and playoffs combined on Monday to fuel Washington to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. The three-time Hart Trophy recipient is one shy from tying Jaromir Jagr for the most game-winning goals in NHL history.
Ovechkin's goal on Monday also was his 442nd at Capital One Arena, pushing him past Hall of Famer Gordie Howe for the most regular-season tallies at a single venue in NHL history. Howe, the long-time Red Wing, scored 441 at Detroit Olympia.
Ovechkin has scored a goal in each of his last three home games and has totaled eight points (four goals, four assists) in his last seven contests overall.
Defenseman Matt Roy scored a goal and Charlie Lindgren made 30 saves for the Capitals, who recorded just their third win in their last 11 games (3-6-2).
"You could tell we're looking for good things to happen, not only as a team, but individually," Washington head coach Spencer Carbery said. "When you're searching for that - anything positive - winning a game like this, it just builds. It builds momentum for us, it builds confidence, and that's really, really important."
Consider Edmonton as a team in search of a pick-me-up after it fell to 2-2-0 on its seven-game road trip following a 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.
Jack Roslovic extended his point streak to five games (four goals, three assists) after scoring early in the second period.
"We've been very fortunate to have Jack on the team and he's providing a lot, pushing the pace, being able to just carry the puck into the zone," Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said. "Obviously, the goals, he's had many of those (seven). He's been a nice addition. We'd like to get some more contributions from throughout our lineup, but Jack has been a good player for us."
McDavid, the NHL leader in assists (21) entering play on Tuesday, saw his eight-game point streak (six goals, 10 assists) come to an end. The three-time Hart Trophy recipient was knocked face-first into the boards by Peyton Krebs, an action that prompted Vasily Podkolzin to step up to the Buffalo forward later in the contest.
Leon Draisaitl extended his point streak to three games (three goals, three assists) after setting up Roslovic's tally.
That about sums up the bright spots for an Oilers team that has lost five of its last eight games (3-4-1) and looks light years away from being the Western Conference's representative in the Stanley Cup in each of the last two years.
So, what's wrong?
"It's hard to say right now," Podkolzin said, per the Edmonton Journal. "But we better figure it out, how to win games, as soon as possible because we're not happy with what's going on right now."
