Shedeur Sanders will make his first NFL start Sunday for the Cleveland Browns after Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion. With Gabriel sidelined, Sanders took first-team reps with Dillon Gabriel out after a concussion and prepared with the game plan.
The rookie saw action last week against Baltimore Ravens, completing 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception, but coaches liked his preparation and work ethic. If Sanders wins, he would become the first Browns quarterback to win his first career start since the franchise returned in 1999. Cleveland’s long-standing quarterback instability, 42 different starters since 1999, is a key moment for the team.
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MORE: Shedeur Sanders’ mom sends strong message before his first NFL start
Shedeur Sanders’ message and family support
Shedeur kept his focus simple and steady before the Raiders game.
“Extremely excited the fact I have this opportunity…but, I’m not one that’s caught up in the moment. I’m built for this. I’m preparing the way I know how to and I know I’m going to out there and execute,” he told the Browns Radio Network.
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“I know like within the offense, within like being out there with them, you know, we have a long way to go for sure, but at the same time, I’m happy and I’m truly excited for where we are right now. So how all the players came together and how they all molded.”
Deshaun Watson traveled to Las Vegas to help Sanders from the sidelines and to assist with the game plan. Reports said Watson helped Sanders digest plays and calm the rookie nerves in practice. Sanders took first-team reps with Dillon Gabriel out after a concussion. Coaches liked how he prepared.
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"Extremely excited the fact I have this opportunity…but, I'm not one that's caught up in the moment. I'm built for this. I'm preparing the way I know how to and I know I'm going to out there and execute."
🚨 #Browns QB Shedeur Sanders on @UHhospitals @Browns Radio Network 🏈 pic.twitter.com/7lnj5tgGjO
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) November 23, 2025
Sanders arrives with strong college credentials, a 74 percent completion rate, 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his final Colorado season. He also left college with what was described as the highest career completion percentage in FBS history. The Browns hope his accuracy and preparation can stabilize an offense that has cycled quarterbacks for years and has not seen a rookie win his first start since 1999.
Outside the locker room, his mother, Pilar Sanders celebrated the moment with a video on social media. The clip was warm and proud, clear show of support. For a franchise used to instability, Sanders’ priorities are to prepare, execute and give the Browns a chance to win.
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