Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders impressed in his preseason debut. Was that enough to help him climb the depth chart?
Sanders started Friday’s road game against the Carolina Panthers instead of presumptive starter Joe Flacco, who was resting. Cleveland QBs Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel didn’t play because of hamstring injuries.
The former Colorado Buffaloes star completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-10 win. Despite the solid performance, that apparently wasn’t enough to convince Browns coaches they should promote Sanders.
“Gabriel is ahead of Sanders in the eyes of the coaching staff, but rarely has that position matched what we’ve seen on the field,” wrote The Athletic’s Zac Jackson in a story published Sunday. “If Pickett and Gabriel are back to full participation, it’s impossible to predict how the reps will be divided this season. [Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski], as is his trademark, won’t answer questions about his plans or any player’s availability.”
Following the win over Carolina, Stefanski said he was “pleased” with Sanders’ play. However, he refused to say how many snaps he’ll receive in Cleveland’s second preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
If Gabriel plays more than Sanders against Philadelphia, that would be a head-scratching decision. He seems to have less upside than his fellow rookie.
Gabriel (5-foot-11, 205 pounds) lacks prototypical size for an NFL QB. It may be contributing to his struggles in training camp. A recent report suggested he has failed to make an impression.
Sanders (6-foot-2, 212 pounds), meanwhile, has good size for an NFL QB, and he looks accurate. Early in the second quarter against Carolina, the 23-year-old threaded the needle on a touchdown pass to wide receiver Kaden Davis.
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