Chedur Sanders made it through the roster cuts.
He’s now one of three quarterbacks with the Browns, joined by veteran Joe Flacco and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel.
Flacco has recently taken on the starting role, while Kenny Pickett was traded to the Raiders, stepping into the backup spot.
Deshaun Watson is recuperating from a torn Achilles, putting him on the physically unable to perform list. His return timeframe remains uncertain, meaning he will miss at least the first four games.
The trade stirred up competition between Sanders and Gabriel for the backup position. It’s unclear who has the upper hand, but Gabriel certainly shone brighter during the preseason.
The preseason kicked off well for Sanders; he dazzled in the opener, tossing for 138 yards and two touchdowns, leading to a solid 30-10 win over the Panthers and grabbing headlines. However, things started to decline as the training camp progressed.
An oblique injury during a joint practice on August 13 slowed him down, and he struggled in his last preseason outing, getting sacked multiple times while trying to hold onto the ball too long.
Against the Rams, Sanders couldn’t get a first down. All five of his possessions ended in punts.
The Browns faced a nine-yard loss across those five drives; Sanders was sacked five times and ended up completing 3 out of 6 passes for a mere 14 yards.
“Obviously, we didn’t play great offensively in the second half,” said Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. “It’s not just him.”
Sanders expressed frustration over not being on the field for the final drive of the 19-17 win against the Rams, where Tyler Huntley converted a game-winning field goal. Huntley was released shortly after the game.
“In the heat of the moment, you want to be that leader,” Sanders remarked. “You want to step up in those final moments. It can be frustrating when you’re sidelined, but that’s part of the journey when you aim to be a game-changer.”
The Browns seem to have faith in Gabriel, who has delivered in two preseason games, completing a 19-3 pass for 129 yards and a touchdown in under a quarter during the finale.
