How Browns views QB competition after Shedeur Sanders dazzles
Kevin Stefanski doesn’t want to go there yet.
After fourth-string quarterback Shedeur Sanders shined in his preseason debut Friday night, the Browns’ coach avoided any questions about how this affects the quarterback competition or if Sanders will now receive more first- or second-team reps.
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“We’re really just focused on developing our players. We’re in evaluation mode,” Stefanski said. “I’m pleased with where the guys are, but I’m not diving into a quarterback competition.”
Regarding more reps with the starters or second-stringers, Stefanski said: “I’m pleased with the way Shedeur played, I’m pleased with the way the offense operated (Friday). All things moving forward as we continue to practice will be focused on all of our guys’ development and getting these guys ready to ready to play for the season.”
The Browns’ quarterback competition is perhaps one of the more intriguing positional battles across the NFL due to Sanders’ involvement.
Deion Sanders’ son unexpected fell to the fifth round and perhaps is the most-talented option among veterans Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, a third-rounder.
His fifth-round status, though, doesn’t usually come with a strong standing in a competition.
Sanders had not been receiving first-team reps during camp, but that changed during the lead-up to this game due to injuries to Pickett and Gabriel and Flacco, 40, not needing preseason reps as a veteran.
Friday arguably marked Sanders’ first true chance to leave his mark and hedid just that, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns while adding 19 rushing yards.
“I wasn’t nervous, so I didn’t really have too much adrenaline,” Sanders said.
“It was just getting comfortable, that’s all it is. There were plenty of games before I was nervous, but I felt like I knew the answers to the test.”
Stefanski singled out one Sanders completion to receiver Luke Floriea as “pretty special by both those guys.”
“Pleased with Shedeur, pleased with the offense,” Stefanski said. “Not perfect, plenty we can work on but I thought the guys did a really nice job of — Shedeur, in operating, and the guys making plays. A ton to teach off of.”
The Browns return to the field next Saturday against the Eagles and Sanders will get “a ton of reps” in that game, per the coach.
The lingering question is whether Pickett and Gabriel will be cleared to play and if Flacco gets his chance to run the offense, which would limit the reps available.
The Browns are “more than likely” to carry four quarterbacks, ESPN reported, indicating Sanders is not on the cutting block this camp.
With a few more performances like Friday, though, he could potentially force his way into the conversation for Week 1 against the Bengals.
“The situations were invaluable for Sheduer, for all of our offense,” Stefanski said. “We had a third-and-1 where he got a quarterback sneak. There’s just a lot of football and that’s by design with him getting a ton of reps in this game and he’ll get a ton of reps next week as well.
“That’s all part of our development of our young players.”
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