There’s no doubt that Cleveland Browns fans are thrilled now that Shedeur Sanders has been named the starter for the upcoming home game against the San Francisco 49ers. After his debut against the Las Vegas Raiders, he did enough to give Kevin Stefanski confidence and prevent him from going back to Dillon Gabriel.
And that’s exactly what happened. Dillon Gabriel was cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol, yet Kevin Stefanski still officially named Sanders the starter and Gabriel the backup. In six starts with the Browns, the former Oregon Ducks quarterback posted a 1-5 record and repeatedly made glaring mistakes that eventually wore down the fan base.
Against the Raiders, Shedeur Sanders showed flashes of real talent – along with a few mistakes – which is normal considering he had only one week of practice with the first team since the start of preseason. Sanders threw for more than 200 yards, completed a touchdown pass, and delivered an explosive 50+ yard play to Isaiah Bond.
Former Cleveland Browns player backs Shedeur Sanders
Ever since Shedeur Sanders was drafted by the Browns, the spotlight fell heavily on the team. This wasn’t surprising – any franchise drafting Deion Sanders’ son was bound to attract massive media attention – and Jimmy Haslam’s team selected him in the fifth round with pick No. 144.
Now that Sanders made his first start, won, and played well, fans are excited. Even former Browns players like Ross Tucker noted that Sanders did things Gabriel simply never showed: “I was impressed. Overall, I thought it was a very favorable evaluation. He didn’t set the world on fire; they didn’t need him to. He made a tremendous throw on the run to Isaiah Bond. I just can’t picture Dillon Gabriel making that play,” Tucker said on The Dan Patrick Show.
In six starts, Dillon Gabriel only showed regression. People may point out that he threw just two interceptions, but the offense simply couldn’t move the ball and the receivers were visibly frustrated. Still, Kevin Stefanski continued trusting him, something that began irritating fans. With Sanders, at least there’s renewed hope.
Next Sunday, Browns fans will surely give Shedeur Sanders a huge welcome in his first home start – and it will come in a tough matchup against a playoff-contending team in the NFC: Brock Purdy’s San Francisco 49ers.
Read the full article here
