Quarterback Shedeur Sanders made his NFL debut in the Cleveland Browns’ most recent game, and the celebrated rookie had a performance that hadn’t been seen in the league in 15 years.
That wasn’t a good thing.
Sanders completed 4-of-16 passes for 47 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in a 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. He became the first NFL player to pass at least 16 times and complete no more than four since Max Hall in the Arizona Cardinals’ 22-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 24, 2010.
Projected at times as one of the top players available in the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders instead joined Cleveland as the 114th selection on April 26. He had not played this season until taking charge of the Browns offense in the second half against Baltimore with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Gabriel remains sidelined, so Sanders will be under center for Cleveland when the Browns face the Las Vegas Raiders at 3:05 p.m. CST Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Browns running back Quinshon Judkins expects Sanders to play well in his first NFL start.
“Shedeur is very talented,” Judkins said on Friday. “Processes things fast, he learns fast, so nothing is an issue for him to just go out there, just execute and be the leader that he is, so excited for him.”
For the first time, Sanders got a week of practice with Cleveland’s first-team offense in preparation for the Raiders.
“A lot of reps, that helps,” Judkins said. “That’s one of those things, especially at quarterback and running back, you’re always together in the backfield, so the better and more reps you get, the better you get.”
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Sanders will become the Browns’ third starting quarterback this season. Joe Flacco started the first four games, and Gabriel started the past six. Last season, Cleveland used four starting quarterbacks, including Bailey Zappe, who has been elevated from the Browns’ practice squad to serve as Sanders’ backup on Sunday.
The Browns and Raiders have the same record – 2-8 – with their offenses largely to blame for sinking the teams to the bottom of their division standings. Las Vegas is among the three NFL teams that have scored fewer points than Cleveland in 2025. The Browns are among the two NFL teams that have gained fewer yards than the Raiders.
A former Pike Road High School star, Judkins joined Cleveland from Ohio State as the 36th selection in the NFL Draft on April 25. The Browns made Judkins the third running back chosen in the 2025 draft.
The first running back chosen will be on the other sideline on Sunday. Las Vegas used the sixth pick to acquire Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
Although he missed the first game of the season, Judkins leads the NFL’s rookies with 620 rushing yards. That’s 17th overall in the league. He has 157 carries and five touchdowns in nine games.
In 10 games, Jeanty has 554 yards and four touchdowns on 149 carries.
“It means a lot,” Judkins said of being the league’s top rookie rusher. “You know, I didn’t do it by myself. Big ups to my O-line and my coaches putting me in a position. But, you know, just knowing that you can be a lot better. Just trying to go out there and correct yourself each and every week.”
Cleveland has seven more games remaining on its schedule for Judkins to get the 380 yards needed to become the fourth former Alabama high school player to record 1,000 rushing yards as an NFL rookie.
The players who have accomplished the feat include:
Bobby Humphrey from Glenn High School in Birmingham with 1,151 yards and seven touchdowns on 294 rushing attempts for the Denver Broncos in 1989.
Carnell “Cadillac” Williams from Etowah High School with 1,178 yards and six touchdowns on 290 rushing attempts for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2005.
Jordan Howard from Gardendale High School with 1,313 yards and six touchdowns on 252 rushing attempts for the Chicago Bears in 2016.
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