Stephen A. Smith Emphatically Defends Decision To Pull Shedeur Sanders In Final Preseason Game

The preseason is often a time for optimism, but for Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the final exhibition game served as a harsh introduction to the NFL. His struggles against the Los Angeles Rams sparked widespread debate, drawing sharp commentary from one of sports media’s most prominent voices, Stephen A. Smith. Smith’s analysis offers a crucial reality check for Sanders and provides context for how the Browns under head coach Kevin Stefanski might handle their developmental quarterback moving forward.

Cleveland Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Has Performance To Forget

Shedeur Sanders, competing for a spot deep on the Browns’ quarterback depth chart, had a disastrous outing in the team’s final preseason game. The numbers from his five series were grim: just three completions on 11 dropbacks, five sacks taken, and a lost fumble that a teammate fortunately recovered. The offense produced four three-and-outs, showing a complete inability to move the ball with Sanders at the helm.

The performance was so concerning that Coach Stefanski made the decision to pull Sanders late in the game, inserting Tyler “Snoop” Huntley in an attempt to spark a game-winning drive. While the move drew criticism from some who felt Stefanski was mishandling his rookie, Stephen A. Smith, speaking on ESPN’s First Take, came to the coach’s defense and placed the responsibility squarely on the young quarterback.

Stephen A. Smith’s Blunt Assessment

Smith did not mince words when evaluating Sanders’ play. “Shedeur Sanders looked very, very bad,” he stated. “Very bad. There’s no way around that against third and fourth stringers.”

Smith pointed directly to the alarming statistics, noting that the performance validated many of the concerns scouts had about Sanders coming out of college. He argued that Stefanski’s decision to pull the rookie was not an act of sabotage but one of protection.

“One can easily argue that Kevin Stefanski was trying to save him from himself,” Smith explained. “Whether you agree or disagree, I think that he’s in a position where he can make that argument legitimately, and it would be very difficult to argue with based on what we saw.”

Smith’s point is that allowing Sanders to continue struggling could have done more long-term damage to his confidence and development. The performance was a clear sign that the rookie was overwhelmed, and the coach intervened. Smith was careful to note that this single bad game doesn’t define Sanders’ career, but it was a significant and undeniable setback. “It doesn’t mean he can’t play in the NFL,” he added. “It means that he had a very, very bad afternoon.”

Implications for the 2025 Browns

This situation provides a clear picture of where Sanders stands within the Browns organization as the 2025 season begins. The team’s quarterback room is firmly established with Deshaun Watson as the starter and Jameis Winston as the primary backup. Sanders was never expected to compete for a starting role this year; his focus is on development.

However, his preseason struggles highlight just how significant the gap is between his raw talent and NFL readiness. For a head coach like Kevin Stefanski, who is focused on maximizing a roster built to win now, patience for on-field rookie mistakes will be limited. The priority is preparing Watson and Winston for the regular season, not force-feeding snaps to a struggling developmental player.

Smith’s comments reinforce the idea that the NFL is a performance-based league, and the hype surrounding a player’s draft status means little once they step on the field. Sanders will need to demonstrate significant improvement in practice to earn the trust of the coaching staff. His immediate future with the Browns will likely involve a spot on the practice squad, where he can learn the offense and adapt to the speed of the professional game without the pressure of live-game action.

The path forward for Shedeur Sanders is clear: the preseason served as a humbling lesson. He must now embrace the grind of a developmental quarterback, focusing on mastering the playbook, improving his pocket presence, and proving to the coaching staff that his “very, very bad afternoon” was an anomaly, not the norm. For the Browns, the focus remains on their Super Bowl aspirations, with Sanders’ development being a long-term project rather than an immediate priority.