The Cleveland Browns can’t catch a break at quarterback. Rookie Shedeur Sanders, fresh off an encouraging preseason debut, left Wednesday’s joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles after sustaining an oblique injury during early warmups.
The timing is rough. Sanders had been in line for significant reps-possibly even the start-against the Eagles on Saturday. But instead of building on last week’s two-touchdown performance against Carolina, he spent most of the day in street clothes, watching from the sideline.
Cleveland’s quarterback depth is already stretched. Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett are each nursing hamstring injuries, leaving Joe Flacco and recently signed Tyler Huntley as the only fully healthy options. Coach Kevin Stefanski admitted the team is “in a wait-and-see mode” with Sanders, noting that an MRI would determine the severity.
Rookie’s momentum interrupted
Sanders’ preseason debut had generated some buzz-14 completions on 23 attempts, 138 yards, two scores, and 19 rushing yards. For a fifth-round pick from Colorado, it was a promising start. But Wednesday’s setback means his reps could be limited for at least the short term, and with only three preseason games left, each missed snap matters.
The oblique injury isn’t Sanders’ first camp hurdle. Earlier this month, he dealt with shoulder soreness that limited his participation. While those issues subsided quickly, oblique strains have a reputation for lingering, especially for quarterbacks whose throwing motion relies heavily on torso rotation.
Stefanski avoided putting a timeline on Sanders’ return, saying only that the staff would “be smart” in deciding when he’s ready to go. Still, there’s no ignoring the opportunity cost-if Gabriel and Pickett remain sidelined, Saturday’s game would have been a prime audition for Sanders to climb the depth chart.
The Browns now find themselves in a tricky balance: protect their rookie’s long-term health or capitalize on an opening in the QB competition. Sanders’ poise and accuracy in the opener earned him attention, but durability questions may influence how quickly Cleveland is willing to lean on him again.
If Sanders can’t go Saturday, expect Flacco to get minimal snaps, Huntley to shoulder most of the work, and the offense to keep its playbook vanilla. That might not be the showcase Browns fans were hoping for, but it could be what the roster needs while waiting for answers.
For Sanders, the next week is about rehab, testing the injury, and proving he can still compete for meaningful preseason snaps. In Cleveland’s unpredictable quarterback shuffle, every rep is a chance-if you’re healthy enough to take it.
Read the full article here
