BEREA, Ohio -- Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be limited with his back injury on Wednesday, and his status for Sunday’s game against the Jets in New York is in doubt.
Stefanski said they’ll see over the next few days how Sanders fares before determining if he can serve as the backup to Dillon Gabriel against the 1-7 Jets.
If Sanders isn’t ready, fourth-year pro Bailey Zappe, currently on the practice squad, will be QB2 for the second straight week. He sat out Monday’s extra practice session coming off the bye, and underwent further treatment on the back.
Sanders reported the back tightness to the club when he showed up at the team facility the Saturday morning before the 32-13 loss to the Patriots on Oct. 26. The back tightened up overnight Friday night, following practice that afternoon and possibly some extra work at Baldwin Wallace University, where Sanders throws to college players on some Friday afternoons.
The Browns had been happy with Sanders’ progress in practice before the injury, despite the fact he wasn’t getting any first-team reps. He works on a separate field at times to get his work in, and also during an extra session after practice.
He’ll probably play at some point this season, depending on how Gabriel plays over the next several weeks. The Browns want to get a good look at Gabriel before they turn it over Sanders.
In other injury news on Wednesday, the following players will sit out the session: receiver Isaiah Bond (foot), left tackle Cam Robinson (illness), and linebacker Carson Schwesinger (ankle).
Stefanski said they’ll know in a few days if Bond will be ready to play after suffering the foot injury in New England. Schwesinger, on the other hand is expected to miss a few weeks with what’s believed to be a high ankle sprain.
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