Shedeur Sanders has spent much of his time in the NFL waiting for a chance to see the field.
The Cleveland Browns rookie has been third on the depth chart ever since he was drafted in the fifth round back in April – but that status has taken a dramatic turn over the last seven days.
He has dressed for each of the first five weeks of his NFL career, but as the emergency quarterback behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel.
However on Sunday, against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback will suit-up once more but this time as the Browns back-up following a shake-up in the QB room.
After starting for the first four weeks of the season, Flacco was benched for Cleveland’s defeat in London in Week 5 and was this week surprisingly traded to AFC North rivals Cincinnati.
Sanders’ fellow rookie Gabriel was handed the start at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Flacco backing him up.
But with the veteran now departed, all eyes were on head coach Kevin Stefanski at his Friday media availability to see if Sanders’ status as QB2 would be confirmed.
It followed reports that former New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs signal caller Bailey Zappe could be elevated from the practise squad to back up Gabriel and Sanders remain QB3.
However, Stefanski confirmed that Sanders is now the back-up, and will be required should anything happen to Gabriel who performed well on his first NFL start last Sunday.
“The big thing there is all of us play our role throughout the week and on Sunday,” said Stefanski.
“Obviously that backup quarterback role is a little bit different. We are doing everything we can to support the starter, and then you have to be ready in a moment’s notice.
“That’s just the life of backup players at every position and we’ve said that here, over the years, that you have to stay ready so you don’t have to get ready. But again, that’s our job as coaches, as players, to be ready when called upon.”
GettyShedeur Sanders will be the Browns back up quarterback for the first time[/caption] Dillon Gabriel made his first NFL start in Week 5 against the Minnesota VikingsGettyQuarterback chaos in Cleveland
Sanders and Gabriel were both draft picks by the Browns in April, Gabriel taken in the third round before Sanders was selected in the fifth following a shocking slide.
They joined a squad that already had Deshaun Watson and Kenny Pickett on the books and also handed a one-year deal to former Super Bowl winner Flacco.
Watson – the $230million quarterback who they gave up three first round picks for in a trade in March 2022 – is sidelined through injury, while Pickett was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders.
With Flacco now gone as well, it means that the Browns are paying eight different QBs more than $40million this season alone as they attempt to solve a problem that has beset them at the position for almost a quarter century.
Sanders has been a polarizing figure ever since his fall in April which followed suggestions he could be a first round pick after impressing during his time under his father Deion at Colorado.
After Gabriel was chosen ahead of him to start against the Vikings, he made headlines for all the wrong reasons with a bizarre media conference that involved him miming his answer.
Cleveland Browns
2025 season
Week 1 – L16-17 v Cincinnati Bengals
Week 2 – L17-41 @ Baltimore Ravens
Week 3 – W13-10 v Green Bay Packers
Week 4 – L10-34 @ Detroit Lions
Week 5 – L17-21 v Minnesota Vikings (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)
Week 6 – @ Pittsburgh Steelers
But Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has sung the praises of the 23-year-old for his efforts over the course of the last week.
“For Shedeur, we’re looking for constant improvement throughout the season – he’s done that,” Rees told The Chronicle Telegram and the Medina Gazette.
“I think the level of preparation it takes week to week, when you’re putting in a new gameplan, that’s a learning curve for all rookies. I think he’s gotten more used to that, getting up to speed, doing a nice job with his preparation.
Will Sanders play for Cleveland Browns?
It remains to be seen if Sanders sees the field, and if he retains his status as QB2, but on Sunday against the Steelers he will be closer than ever to his first NFL appearance.
“We’re going to make sure we do everything we can to make sure Dillon’s ready for the game,” Sanders said on Thursday.
“Whatever that means, each and every day, even when Joe was the starter, preparing the right way and be ready to know that you could get out there at any point in time.
“I’m overly confident within myself. I know when I first got here, I’m ready to play, but it’s up to the coaches, and whatever decision they make then, I’m fine with.”
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