The Cleveland Browns opened a new chapter in their quarterback saga this week, officially naming veteran Joe Flacco as their starter for Week 1.
While the announcement offered clarity on the immediate quarterback situation, it sparked another burning question among fans: When will rookie Shedeur Sanders finally get his opportunity on the field?
Flacco, a seasoned NFL signal-caller, brings stability to a position that has been anything but steady in Cleveland over the past few seasons.
However, the Browns’ quarterback depth chart remains a source of speculation, particularly regarding the timeline for Sanders, the highly touted rookie and son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.
On a recent episode of “3 and Out with John Middlekauff,” the former NFL scout shared a bold forecast that could surprise Browns supporters eager to see Sanders take control of the franchise’s future.
Middlekauff emphasized that Flacco starting Week 1 was expected. “Joe Flacco was always going to start Week One for the Cleveland Browns. That’s not the story,” he said.
Dillon Gabriel might get the nod before Sanders
“The only story is now what’s going to be their quarterback depth chart when the season starts. Dillon Gabriel is going to start a game in the regular season, assuming they’re both healthy, before Shedeur Sanders.
And everyone’s going to freak out. Yet this organization chose this guy ahead of them for that reason. I think this circus is going to grow dramatically,” Middlekauff added.
If that prediction holds, it would mean Sanders might wait longer than anticipated while Dillon Gabriel sees playing time first, despite Sanders’ reputation as one of the most promising young quarterbacks in football.
Sanders’ path to the starting role has faced additional hurdles. He suffered an oblique injury during practice on August 13, which forced him to miss nearly a week of full participation and sit out the Browns’ second preseason game.
Encouragingly, Sanders returned on Wednesday to take part in 11-on-11 drills, signaling progress in his recovery. Still, Cleveland wasted no time cementing Flacco as the starter, while backup Kenny Pickett continues to recover and has been ruled out for the preseason finale.
Historically, the Browns’ quarterback situation suggests Sanders won’t be waiting forever. Over the last two seasons, Cleveland has started seven different quarterbacks, including Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston, P.J. Walker, and Flacco himself.
This instability underscores the likelihood that no single quarterback will hold the position all season.
Sanders already displayed flashes of his potential in the preseason, throwing for 138 yards and two touchdowns in his debut before the injury setback.
While Flacco is expected to guide Cleveland in Week 1, the team’s turbulent quarterback history suggests Sanders’ turn under center is inevitable.
The question remains not if, but when, he will have the chance to prove whether he can stabilize one of the NFL’s most unpredictable positions.
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