The Cleveland Browns have yet to name Shedeur Sanders their backup quarterback, but the rookie signal-caller is optimistic about the way things are heading in Northeast Ohio.
Sanders spoke with media members on Thursday, October 9, saying he was “excited” about the way things have progressed in the team’s quarterback room.
“I’m in a great mental space overall. 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,”
Sanders started his NFL career in disappointing fashion, plummeting from a first-round prospect to a fifth-round draft pick.
He entered the Browns’ offseason as QB4. Eventually, Kenny Pickett sustained an injury and Cleveland chose to trade him to the Las Vegas Raiders for a fifth-round pick. Sanders then became QB3.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski demoted Joe Flacco from the role of starter after a 1-3 opening to the season, elevating rookie Dillon Gabriel. And even though Flacco moved into the backup position and Sanders remained third-string, that decision felt like a significant step in Sanders’ eventual ascension to a starting role.
Then, on Tuesday, the Browns made an out-of-the-blue trade by dealing Flacco and a sixth-round pick to the division rival Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for another fifth-rounder. Stefanski now faces pressure to move Sanders up the depth chart into the QB2 role, as the other option is fourth-year veteran Bailey Zappe, who has been a member of the practice squad all season.
The Detroit Lions are on a four-game winning streak heading into this weekend's game against the Kansas City Chiefs with Jameson Williams a hot topic.
Williams has not recorded a 100-plus yard game since the Lions played Ben Johnson's Bears in Motown during Week 2 and some fans have questioned his demeanor on social media according to reporter Kory Woods.
While most fans continue to support Williams, the former Alabama star's thoughts on the issue were revealed in an interview attributed to Woods.
Woods also shared an update from Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, who revealed his thoughts on Williams' latest dry spell.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) tries to catch a pass intended for him against Cleveland Browns cornerback Myles Harden (26) during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Williams has continued to chip in as a receiver while excelling as a blocker in new offensive coordinator John Morton's system with the Lions.
He hasn't compiled as much yardage as expected lately, failing to eclipse more than 100 yards total over his last three games.
Sheppard shared his innermost thoughts.
"I asked #Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard what he's seeing from the way defenses are playing Jameson Williams that the average fan might not understand when it comes to his lack of targets," Woods wrote.
"Sheppard: 'I would hope the average fan appreciates 34 points per game," Woods quoted the Lions coach as saying.
Williams' blocking speaks for itself, and he also provides a decoy that opposing teams must account for regardless of whether he catches the ball or not.
Williams is one of the NFL's best deep threats and commands attention on any route from defenders extending back to both safeties.
The Lions' offense is better with Williams on the field, that much is for certain. Whether or not he puts up Pro Bowl numbers may affect his contract status going forward, but it won't necessarily always affect the Lions' winning ways.
