Sanders Gets Opportunity Amid Injury Concerns
Early Wednesday, Shedeur Sanders received encouraging news from the Cleveland Browns: if Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel remained sidelined, he would get the start in the upcoming preseason game. However, a twist emerged when reports indicated that Sanders might have sustained an injury himself, casting doubt on his chances.
There was a growing sense of skepticism when it became apparent that Sanders didn’t participate in team drills during practice. The Browns later disclosed that he had suffered an oblique injury, further complicating the situation.
Interestingly, Sanders had injured himself while throwing early on, which resulted in him sitting out the remainder of practice. Although the severity of his injury hasn’t been fully assessed, more clarity is expected during the upcoming joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles, set before their preseason matchup.
In his previous game against the Carolina Panthers, Sanders made a notable impact, completing 23 of 34 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Yet, the quarterback competition is fierce, with notable players like Pickett, Gabriel (who was drafted two rounds ahead of him), and Joe Flacco also in the mix. Deshaun Watson is healing from two torn Achilles, adding another layer to the crowded quarterback room.
As it stands, Sanders is currently slotted as the fourth quarterback on the depth chart, trailing behind Flacco, Pickett, and Gabriel.
When asked about the timeline for deciding on the starting quarterback for the season, head coach Kevin Stefanski noted that he would gain more insight following this week’s game. He mentioned, “I think you’re taking everything into consideration, but let’s see how you make a decision after getting through this week. We’ll decide when to decide.”
Flacco has limited first-team reps due to a hamstring issue, and Gabriel is also nursing a hamstring injury. Initially, Sanders had to wait his turn for first-team reps, like the other quarterbacks. Despite this, he commented that it “doesn’t really bother me.”
Additionally, Sanders had dealt with shoulder pain earlier in the month, raising further questions about his durability moving forward.
