Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
The Cleveland Browns are making sure rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is staying sharp, despite swirling rumors about his lack of practice reps.
Questions about Sanders’ workload surfaced this week after ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Rizzo reported that the rookie hasn’t been taking scout team snaps — a role typically given to the No. 3 quarterback.
But CBS analyst and former NFL lineman Ross Tucker said he spoke directly with the Browns and revealed the team has a specific plan in place to ensure Sanders is still getting valuable reps during the week.
“They have an airtight plan down to the minute for those guys. Down to the minute,” Tucker said on the broadcast of Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, referring to both Dillon Gabriel and Sanders. “They run an extra period after practice so Shedeur can get 8-10 reps every day.”
If Sanders will see the field this season is still to be determined. But Browns coach Kevin Stefanski voiced that he’s committed to Sanders’ development as a fifth-round pick.
“I’m committed to his development, just like all of our rookies,” Stefanski said at the end of the preseason. “We’ll continue to focus on getting our guys better. That’s what we will stay committed to, and that’s what’s important to me.”
Browns Already Facing Quarterback Controversy
The season is just a couple of weeks old, and the Browns are already facing significant questions about their quarterback situation. Joe Flacco has functioned as the starter but the 40-year-old struggled mightily in Week 2.
He completed just 55.6% of his passes against the Ravens in a 41-17 loss. He had 199 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Flacco also fumbled in the fourth quarter and it was returned for a touchdown.
“Look, our defense is playing really well,” Flacco said after the loss. “Early on in my career, we had some really good defenses, and it wasn’t like we were lighting the world on fire on offense, but we were doing good things. We were playing good football.
“Until we make that next step, I think we have the ability to play like that, play good football. We don’t have to go score 50 every night, but we can play good football and put up enough points and let those guys on defense pin their ears back and go do what they do.”
Calls are growing for the Browns to see what their rookies can do. But Stefanski isn’t ready to make that change.
“I don’t think it’s fair to talk about that right now,” Stefanski said. “We win as a team, we lose as a team.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Dodges Question on Ravens
Sanders was officially inactive for the Week 2 matchup against the Ravens, serving as the emergency quarterback. But he still found himself in front of a microphone after the game.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Baltimore had plans to select Sanders three picks before Cleveland did in the fifth round of the draft. However, Sanders made it clear he wasn’t interested in joining the Ravens, knowing it would mean sitting behind Lamar Jackson in a backup role.
Sanders sidestepped a question on the rumor after the game.
“My response is I’m focused on the now,” Sanders said. “I don’t really talk about anything in the past and whatever happened in the past, it is what it is. I’m more focused on now. I’m more focused on how this game that we just gone and had and figuring out how to move forward from now.”
The Browns slipped to 0-2 with the loss to the Ravens. They’ll host the Green Bay Packers next week.