Shedeur Sanders Given Notable Week 9 Report Card
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Shedeur Sanders had the kind of first start Sunday that many backups around the NFL experience. He was rusty and struggling early, but once he got into the flow of the game and had to make plays, he showed the ability that makes him an intriguing prospect and kept him on the team in the first place.
Sanders followed the script that injured starter Deshaun Watson used for all five of the Cleveland Browns’ victories this season. Following a rough first half or three quarters, Sanders was able to rally the Browns and was almost able to give them another game-winning drive before a two-point conversion failed, resulting in a 23-22 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints.
With an up-and-down performance, it should be no surprise that Sanders was given a notable Week 9 report card, with Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report handing him a C for his efforts.
“Sanders made his first start of the season since Deshaun Watson wasn’t cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol until Saturday. Once again, the Browns offense sputtered during the first half. However, Sanders and Co. got things going later in the contest. As NFL Researcher noted, the second-year signal-caller completed all three of his deep passes for 154 yards. Comparatively, Watson completed only eight deep passes for 272 yards through the first eight games,” Sobleski wrote.
Sanders managed just 38 passing yards in the first half, completing five of eight attempts. Fortunately, the Browns’ defense did its part, and Cleveland was tied 3-3 at halftime and trailed just 9-6 in the fourth quarter.
From there, Sanders completed three long passes, which resulted in more than half of his 297 yards for the game. That long-pass total doesn’t even count the checkdown throw that tight end Harold Fannin Jr. turned into a 39-yard potential game-winning touchdown with 1:00 remaining in OT.
Unfortunately, Sanders did not properly execute the final two-point conversion pass, which fell incomplete but would have had to be redone, with Cleveland committing a holding penalty. Overall, it was the kind of effort Sanders put forth in his seven starts last year as a rookie, with big plays overcoming long streaks of ineffectiveness.
Sanders may have played well enough to generate some added interest before the NFL trade deadline arrives Tuesday afternoon. But he also may have proven his value as Watson’s backup as the Browns pursue a playoff berth.
Even though Watson will reportedly be named the starter for Cleveland’s Week 10 game against the Houston Texans, it will be interesting to see if Sanders can put forth a more even performance should he be called on again this season.