Shedeur Sanders Seems to Want to Play the Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are just a few days removed from their underdog win over the Baltimore Ravens during Monday Night Football on September 22, but they already have another big matchup on the way. The team is up against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, September 28, and everyone in the NFL knows that the Browns’ defense is no joke.
So, Lions head coach Dan Campbell is making sure his team is as ready as possible for the defensive challenge ahead. But, the Browns also have one of the most talked-about quarterbacks of 2025 on their roster in rookie Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders, of course, was drafted surprisingly late in the NFL draft this year, as No. 144 overall, and it was really the story of the draft. But, he was a solid addition to the Cleveland Browns, and he sounds like he’s ready, and wanting, to play the Detroit Lions.
Shedeur Sanders is Ready for Whenever His Name is Called
Ahead of Sunday’s game, Sanders spoke with the press about the Browns’ quarterback situation. He’s been the Cleveland Browns’ No. 3 quarterback, sitting behind starter Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. So, Sanders has been inactive for the first three weeks of the regular season, just being the emergency quarterback.
Ahead of the Lions game, Sanders asserted that he’s “ready to play right now.” So, if, somehow, he gets the chance to take the field against the Lions, or any other NFL team this season, he says he’s primed to do so.
“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,”
He also talked about the quarterbacks in the NFL and said that he believes he can do better, noting, “I know if you see the quarterback play in the league right now, I’m capable of playing better than that.”
His dad, Deion Sanders, agrees. The elder Sanders went on Jason and Travis Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast and said that he thinks his son will have a chance to show his stuff with the Browns sometime this season.
“Be patient and be ready,” Deion Sanders said, regarding the advice he gave his son. “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 added that he is “going to get a shot.”
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell on the Win Over Baltimore
After the Lions’ Monday night win over Baltimore, Lions head coach Dan Campbell talked about how great his team played under the Monday night pressure. He gave props to defensive end Aidan Hutchinson for the late forced fumble.
“Our hardest workers are our best players. It’s not lip service; it’s not fake. Our best players are our hardest workers,” he told reporters. “Go out and watch them practice. It’s like that every day. So, that’s the standard. That’s the standard.”
Now, the Detroit Lions’ defense will really be tested against the Browns. Get your popcorn ready for Sunday.
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.
