After a disappointing 23-16 loss to the Ravens, Shannon Sharpe criticized Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski for his handling of rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who struggled in his NFL debut.
On his podcast “Nightcap,” Sharpe expressed that it was unfair for Stefanski not to have given Sanders any practice time with the starters before his first regular-season game.
Sanders stepped in during the third quarter after Dillon Gabriel was sidelined with a concussion.
Sharpe stated, “Taking his first snap with the starters was really unfair.” He referenced comments from the coach, noting that Sanders hadn’t been integrated into the initial offensive plan at all.
He questioned, “Was there ever a moment when you, I don’t know, thought maybe Dillon could get hurt? Shouldn’t you let Shedeur take a rep or two?”
He added, “We’re already in Week 11. This player was drafted back in May and hasn’t taken a single snap in practice. That’s pretty disappointing.”
On Wednesday, Stefanski emphasized that having Gabriel get reps was crucial but maintained that Sanders was also getting practice time.
“With a young quarterback like Dillon starting, it’s vital he gets a lot of repetitions. Things are different when there’s a veteran like Joe,” he explained.
During the game, Sanders completed 4 out of 16 passes for 47 yards, including one interception.
The rookie, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, showcased some arm strength but found it tough going against the Ravens’ formidable defense.
Post-game, Sanders acknowledged, “I didn’t play well at all.”
At halftime, Gabriel had managed to hit 7 of 10 passes for 68 yards, while the Browns’ offense overall only mustered 187 yards, with Sanders accounting for a 64-yard play in the second half.
Veteran defensive end Myles Garrett mentioned that after the game, Sanders took responsibility and spoke to the team in the locker room.
As a backup to Gabriel, Sanders saw action after Cleveland made the decision to bench veteran Joe Flacco, who was traded to the Bengals last month.
With a bleak record of 2 wins and 8 losses, the Browns will face off against the Raiders (2-7) next Sunday in Las Vegas, who are coming off a short week as they prepare to play the Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
