Shedeur Sanders did what he could in his first preseason game with the Cleveland Browns.
But an oblique injury kept him out of his second opportunity to prove himself, and the hill to climb may have been too steep anyway.
On Monday, the [Browns decided that Joe Flacco](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/cleveland-browns/news/browns-joe-flacco-decision-delays-qb-inevitable-shedeur-sanders-dillon-gabriel/d7368889382d2cd9188a66fb) would be their Week 1 starting quarterback.
Sanders, as a fifth-round pick out of Colorado, always was a bit behind the 8-ball in this QB competition. And while he may get a chance to start down the road, it won't happen right now.
The Browns signed Flacco, a former first-rounder and Super Bowl champion, in free agency as a very likely candidate to get this gig from the beginning, even at 40 years old.
Cleveland traded assets to the Eagles for the other veteran competition, Kenny Pickett.
And then in the 2025 NFL Draft itself, the Browns chose Oregon's Dillon Gabriel in the third round at pick No. 94, exactly 50 selections before Sanders.
When you break it down like that, Sanders had the least investment in him of any of the four QBs in the room.
That doesn't mean he can't be a successful NFL quarterback some day. His pedigree, both with a Hall of Fame father and a sparkling collegiate resume, combines with impressive accuracy to give him a real shot to make it.
His preseason debut was great, with two touchdown passes coupled with no interceptions or turnovers while generally showing good throwing decisions and movement skills in the pocket.
If Sanders approaches things the right way, Flacco can be a real mentor to him. Sanders and Gabriel both can watch and learn how NFL QBs approach each and every week to be prepared.
If the rookies follow Flacco's lead, they can stick around the league for a long time.
But for now, it's a bummer for Sanders' supporters. The good vibes of his preseason debut were quickly doused by the injury, and now it's confirmed that there won't be a Week 1 start coming for Sanders.
**MORE:** [Ohio State names its starting quarterback to take on Arch Manning](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/author/billy-heyen)