Even though Dillon Gabriel was cleared from the concussion protocol this week, Stefanski had no option but to keep Shedeur Sanders as the starting quarterback for next Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, after Sanders led the Week 11 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, where he threw a touchdown pass.
After the game -which marked Sanders’ first NFL win in his debut as a starting quarterback- Stefanski was strongly warned by fans and analysts not to start Dillon Gabriel again, since in none of Gabriel’s six starts had the offense looked as good as it did with Sanders.
Opportunities for Shedeur Sanders had been minimal or nonexistent. Since the start of preseason he had been the fourth option on the depth chart and never had the chance to train with the first team until he was announced as the starter before the Raiders game.
Browns legend believes the team looked better with Shedeur Sanders
The offense wasn’t spectacular, but there was clearly new energy. Sanders completed plays that Dillon Gabriel hadn’t shown in six games. He connected on a 50+ yard pass to Isaiah Bond that even surprised Myles Garrett, a 39-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy that ended in a fumble, and a pass to Dylan Sampson who took it 66 yards to the end zone.
Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns legend, pointed out areas that improved with Sanders: “You saw huge progress all across the board, specifically in some of those areas that he needed to make huge improvements on,” Thomas said on the BIGPLAY Cleveland Show. “When the defense is backing up because they’re worried you’ll throw it over their heads, it opens up the easy things underneath.”
There’s no doubt the team has a new energy with Shedeur Sanders. Leaders in the locker room have backed him, including Myles Garrett, who had 3 sacks against the Raiders and now has 17 through 11 games – truly impressive numbers.
Now a tough challenge awaits Sanders. Yes, he won his first game, but next Sunday’s opponent is very difficult: the San Francisco 49ers, who are battling for the top spot in the NFC West and the conference overall. Sanders will play at home; he had appeared earlier this season at home against the Baltimore Ravens in the second half, but this will be his first home start.
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