Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has named rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders as Dillon Gabriel’s backup for their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Browns have veteran Bailey Zappe on their practice squad, and could have elevated him to be their backup while Sanders would have remained the emergency third quarterback. Instead, the fifth-round rookie from Colorado is one step closer to getting on the field.
As for what the Steelers did this week, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said the team will go back in some of Sanders’ Colorado film to know him better, while they have a few games of Zappe tape, including a game against the New England Patriots in 2023 where he started at Acrisure Stadium.
Given that Sanders is now the backup and only has limited tape on his resume from the preseason, that Colorado tape becomes much more important in the case that Gabriel would get injured.
Zappe is unlikely to get elevated, as a quarterback can not be elevated from the practice squad and become the emergency third quarterback per league rules. So, if the Browns want to have an emergency third quarterback, they would have to make a roster move and sign Zappe to their active roster.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.