Shedeur Sanders is locked in a high-stakes competition at Cleveland Browns training camp ahead of their preseason opener with the Carolina Panthers, and it seems as though he’s losing the battle.
The next month or so could be one that shapes the trajectory of his professional career, despite him only being a rookie, as he finds himself working from behind in a four-man quarterback room that’s heating up by the day.
Despite strong preseason buzz and a decorated college résumé, Sanders remains behind the curve at Huntington Bank Field, where he’s been mostly limited to second- and third-team reps during team drills.
Appearing out of Kevin Stefanski‘s favor, the Browns‘ coaching staff has made no public declarations, but the reality on the practice field points to a steeper climb than initially expected.
With incumbent starter Deshaun Watson recovering from shoulder surgery and expected to return later in the season, the Browns‘ immediate quarterback picture remains fluid and very open – with four names in the mix.
Joe Flacco is tipped to be the favourite due to his veteran experience and past pedigree as a Super Bowl winner, ahead of Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and finally Coach Prime’s son.
Pickett, brought over from the Philadelphia Eagles, is sidelined with a hamstring injury and Gabriel, who is a rookie like Sanders. has seen increased time with the top unit as per Underdog NFL.
With Flacco dominating first team snaps, and the wider context of the other two names, it seems as though Sanders is the black sheep of the bunch and is appearing cut adrift already.
Though Stefanski has praised all quarterbacks for their dedication, his remarks acknowledged the challenges facing the younger players in absorbing the playbook and transitioning to the professional level.
“I’m proud of these guys,” Stefanski told 92.3 The Fan. “They are fighting like crazy. We’re throwing a ton at them.
“They’ve spent a lot of time in that meeting room where you start to get into the minutiae of this position, and I think Shedeur and Dillon are really working hard.”
Still, effort alone will not secure a roster spot or playing time. Sanders must not only catch up, but convincingly outperform both Gabriel and Pickett to earn Stefanski‘s trust under center.
With each rep carrying more weight as Week 1 approaches, his margin for error continues to shrink.
Ex-Browns star calls for Sanders respect
One person in the corner of Sanders is Bernie Kosar as the former Browns quarterback and franchise icon has weighed in on the situation, offering both praise and caution regarding Shedeur‘s role in Cleveland’s quarterback puzzle.
“I love how he [Sanders] is handling stuff,” Kosar said. “He’s out here an hour early.
“That’s working out stuff, and then he’s one of the last guys here signing autographs and all that.
“We kill more quarterbacks by putting them in there early.”
His message echoes a sentiment widely felt in Cleveland, a city that has cycled through more than two dozen quarterbacks over the last two decades.
With a historically unstable QB room, the franchise now appears to be weighing long-term development more carefully.
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