Big News on Shedeur Sanders’ Future Announced Ahead of Lions Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Sep 28, 2025 12:16 PM ET

The Cleveland Browns entered Sunday’s showdown with the Detroit Lions with a clear (if uneasy) pecking order: veteran Joe Flacco is the starter, rookie Dillon Gabriel is listed as the primary backup, and rookie Shedeur Sanders is the team’s emergency third QB.

The Browns’ official Week 4 depth chart still lists Flacco, Gabriel and Sanders in that order.

Through three games, Flacco has shouldered the load, completing 77 of 126 passes (61.1%) for 631 passing yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Meanwhile, Gabriel’s regular-season work has been extremely limited (19 passing yards and a TD in a cameo) and Sanders has yet to register a regular-season snap.

Hours before the Browns-Lions game, Cleveland beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot pushed back on circulating trade and roster rumors, noting how, despite chatter about Sanders’ placement on the depth chart, "the Browns have no plans to part with either of their rookie QBs, and they’re not going anywhere."

Sanders arrived in Cleveland with a strong college resume, completing 353 of 477 passes (74%) for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his senior year for the Colorado Buffaloes, earning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Despite this, and signing a four-year rookie contract after going No. 144 overall, his NFL record is blank so far.

Since the draft, fans and experts alike have questioned whether Cleveland is maximizing Shedeur’s upside after he slipped to the fifth round in April and has played limited snaps.

A handful of outlets have even floated trade scenarios involving teams like the Las Vegas Raiders, whose future at QB remains in question with the aging Geno Smith under center.

The Browns, however, appear committed for now to keeping their rookie quarterbacks in place as part of a longer evaluation process.

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

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