The Cleveland Browns have confirmed that rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will make his second consecutive NFL start this Sunday when the team hosts the San Francisco 49ers at their home stadium.
Coach's Confidence in Young Quarterback
Head coach Kevin Stefanski made the official announcement on Monday, revealing that Sanders would get another opportunity to lead the team after his impressive debut performance. The fifth-round draft pick demonstrated significant potential in Sunday's 24-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, completing 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards while recording one touchdown and one interception.
The number one job of a quarterback is to win. So, excited to get that first win under his belt, Stefanski stated during the press conference. And then the next thing is improvement, and that's what young players do. Certainly young quarterbacks do. You get one game better, and that's just from working at it. So that'll be our focus.
Historic Achievement for Browns Rookie
Sanders made franchise history by becoming the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his first start since Eric Zeier accomplished the feat back in 1995. This achievement becomes even more significant considering he's only the 11th rookie to start for Cleveland since the team's return to the NFL in 1999.
The young quarterback also marked another milestone as the 13th different starter since Stefanski took over coaching duties in 2020, highlighting the team's search for consistency at the quarterback position.
Sanders' debut featured several explosive plays that demonstrated his potential. His 66-yard touchdown connection with fellow rookie Dylan Sampson and a 52-yard completion to Isaiah Bond currently stand as Cleveland's two longest pass plays of the entire season.
Protection and Preparation Pay Off
The offensive line provided solid protection for the rookie, allowing only one sack despite Sanders facing pressure on eight of his 21 dropbacks. Coach Stefanski expressed satisfaction with the protection scheme while acknowledging areas for improvement.
I have no questions about his toughness. I think the protection by and far was good. He took a coverage sack early in the game. Definitely room for improvement, Stefanski noted.
Sanders revealed after the game that he felt remarkably relaxed during his first start, attributing part of his comfort to having his first full week of practice with the first-team offense leading up to the game.
The quarterback situation developed after Sanders initially entered during the second half of Cleveland's November 16th 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He replaced Dillon Gabriel, who suffered a concussion late in the first half of that contest.
With Gabriel now cleared from concussion protocol, he's expected to serve as Sanders' backup for the upcoming game against the 49ers. The Browns' quarterback journey this season began with Joe Flacco starting the first four games before his trade to Cincinnati Bengals on October 7th, followed by Gabriel starting the subsequent six games.
