Shedeur Sanders has arguably become the most talked-about third-string quarterback in NFL history, as he often makes headlines over his Cleveland Browns teammates Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel.
NFL: Los Angeles Rams at Cleveland Browns
Aug 23, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) listens to the national anthem before the game between the Browns and the Los Angeles Rams at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The latest discussion regarding Shedeur was his last week’s viral mime incident, and former NFL head coach Bruce Arians isn’t liking the Shedeur trend.
“Why is the third quarterback getting interviews?” Arianssaid during an appearance on the “Up & Adams” show on Friday. “He had nothing to do with the game. It’s all for media clicks. He’s a heck of a personality. But the personality can’t come out until you do something on the field.
“It’s a big week for Dillon Gabriel and a big week for the Browns, making that transition. For him to be available to the press, I don’t know why he’s doing it.”
The incident occurred after Gabriel was named the Week 5 starter against the Minnesota Vikings, with Flacco as backup and Sanders as QB3.
During an interview in the locker room, Shedeur silently mouthed answers to about five questions before a Browns staffer ended the session. This came after NFL analyst Rex Ryan previously criticized the signal-caller for his outspoken nature.
However, Gabriel didn’t take offense at his teammate’s unusual behavior.
“I don’t want to speak for anyone, but for me it’s like, ‘Hey, we’re a team, we do this together as a unit’” Gabrielsaid. “We can only control what we can control. I don’t want to speak for anyone in particular.”
Cam Newton Questions Browns’ Commitment to Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns selected Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round, despite projections placing him as a potential first-round pick before his slide to No. 144.
On his 4th&1 podcast, Cam Newton criticized the program for making Sanders their QB3.
“I don’t think they want Shedeur Sanders to be successful in Cleveland,” Newtonsaid. “Because if you were to say, ‘I want Cleveland to have a person or a figure to have every chance to be successful,’ Shedeur has been the opposite of that.”
However, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said on Thursday that the Browns appreciate Sanders’ poise under pressure and believe he has the tools to be a starting quarterback.
Meanwhile, Newton remains confident in Sanders’ potential.
“When you give Shedeur an opportunity to play with viable options around him, what does he do? He performs,” Newton said. “The next opportunity for him to perform the following week, he didn’t help his case because he had [an injury].
“The following week from there, if you want to see a real clear-cut identifier if he’s capable or not, you put him with the 1s. Or you put him with the valuable 2s. Don’t put him with the trash.”
Let’s see if Gabriel keeps up the QB1 role or Sanders can replace him.