CLEVELAND, Ohio — While Shedeur Sanders’ first start as the Browns’ quarterback resulted in a win, one glaring issue remains that could determine whether the Browns offense truly takes flight: developing chemistry with his top playmakers.
In the victory over Las Vegas, star receivers Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman each recorded just one catch, while Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku wasn’t targeted at all. If Sanders is going to build on his promising debut, connecting with these primary weapons will be critical.
“I think one of the things that they’re going to have to figure out is, can they get it going between Shedeur Sanders and Jerry Jeudy? They have to figure out if they can develop the timing and the connection,” Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot explained on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast.
That one connection between Sanders and Jeudy resulted in an impressive 39-yard completion, with Sanders rolling right under pressure and delivering a perfect throw. Jeudy fumbled trying to gain yards after the catch. But overall, the chemistry simply wasn’t there consistently, which could become problematic against stronger defenses.
“That is the area targeted in my mind for the biggest development is for him to bring in your Njokus, your Tillmans and your Jeudys and try to get the ball to those guys,” Cabot emphasized.
The solution, Cabot suggests, requires intensive work similar to what former Browns quarterback Joe Flacco and Amari Cooper did to develop their remarkable chemistry last season. “They were in constant communication with each other. They were texting each other back and forth all day long, going over film together and just really talking everything through,” she noted.
While the established stars struggled to make an impact, two rookies showed promising connections with Sanders. Harold Fannin Jr. led the team with six targets, while the most electric moment came when Sanders connected with speedster Isaiah Bond for a spectacular 52-yard completion that “had Miles Garrett’s jaw even on the floor.”
This willingness to attack vertically represents a significant shift from Dillon Gabriel’s approach and highlights Sanders’ confidence in his arm talent.
“I think the biggest thing is the fact that Shedeur Sanders is not afraid to look downfield and look for those explosive plays because he knows how accurate he is,” Browns beat reporter Ashley Bastock observed.
Sanders’ accuracy isn’t just perception — it’s backed by his 74% completion percentage that led the FBS last season. “That was legit,” Cabot confirmed. “That wasn’t because he was not throwing the ball away and things like that. That is because of his accuracy, his elite accuracy and his nice touch on the ball.”
This downfield attacking mentality could also benefit the running game by preventing defenses from stacking the box against Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, who showed explosive potential with his 66-yard reception.
“If you can hit some of those big plays, some of those big chunk plays and you’re not retreating and taking those big, huge sacks that you might not be able to make up for, then it’s going to open things up for Quinshon Judkins,” Cabot explained.
As the Browns prepare to host San Francisco, developing these connections becomes even more crucial. With another full week of first-team practice reps — something Sanders didn’t have prior to the Raiders game — the hope is that timing and chemistry with the team’s primary weapons will improve.
The early evidence suggests Sanders has the tools to elevate this offense if those connections can be established. As Cabot concluded: “He trusts that very talented arm of his. He’s a gamer. ”
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