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Browns Make Final Shedeur Sanders Decision After Adding Quarterback to Practice Squad

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Escarpio | Last updated Aug 28, 2025 1:45 PM ET

Shedeur Sanders has been at the center of NFL storylines through the offseason.

Sanders went into the draft as a projected first-round pick and wound up falling all the way to the fifth round, where the Cleveland Browns selected the Colorado Buffaloes product.

The former Colorado quarterback was the second QB taken by the Browns. Before selecting Sanders, Cleveland drafted Dillon Gabriel, a former Heisman Trophy candidate with the Oregon Ducks.

Sanders competed with a talented quarterback room in training camp, battling for a spot on the 53-man roster beside Gabriel, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett.

The Browns wound up trading Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders, naming Flacco as the starter and keeping Gabriel and Sanders on the 53-man roster.

On Thursday, ahead of the NFL season, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Sanders will officially serve as the third string quarterback.

Cleveland mentioned that Sanders will be dressed for games and will be the emergency quarterback for the Browns.

#Browns coach Kevin Stefanski tells reporters that Shedeur Sanders will be the third QB, meaning he's able to dress for games.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 28, 2025

Sanders was widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in college football last season. He spent his college career with the Jackson State Tigers and Colorado, spending two seasons with each program.

Last season, Sanders led Colorado to a bowl game against BYU, playing alongside Heisman Trophy winner and now Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter.

In his final season with the Buffaloes, Sanders passed for 37 touchdowns and 4,134 yards with a 74.0 completion percentage.

Amid all of the chaos surrounding the NFL with 53-man roster deadlines Cleveland signed Bailey Zappe to its practice squad.

They now have four quarterbacks tied to the team, with plenty of insurance available.

Deion Sanders Turns Heads With Proposed Changes to College Football (2:51)

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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