Browns players react to Shedeur Sanders getting first regular-season start

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will get the first regular-season start of his NFL career when the 2-8 Browns play at the 2-8 Las Vegas Raiders this coming Sunday. 

Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward is among Cleveland's defensive players who have gone against Sanders on the practice field from springtime workouts through November. On Wednesday, Ward noted that Sanders throws a "great ball" and is "very accurate."

How Shedeur Sanders impressed teammates while handling backup duties

"He comes to work every day looking to get better and be himself, so looking forward to seeing how he does with the week of preparation and coming out here and performing," Ward said about Sanders, per Ashley Bastock of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. 

Fellow Browns rookie signal-caller Dillon Gabriel went 1-4 as Cleveland's starter before he suffered a concussion in the first half of the club's 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 16. Sanders made his regular-season debut that Sunday afternoon and completed 4-of-16 passes for 47 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Gabriel was still in concussion protocol as of Thursday. 

First-team practice reps had been reserved for Gabriel until this week, but Sanders often got in extra midweek work with teammates such as rookie wide receiver Gage Larvadain. Thus, Larvadain has become quite familiar with the kind of passes Sanders delivers to his targets. 

"Some people say, you know, people throw the ball too hard," Larvadain said about Sanders. "He puts it right on the money...so it just makes our job easier for sure." 

Teammates think Shedeur Sanders will be prepared for first start

On Wednesday, Sanders vowed he would spend the next few days "doing everything in my power" to produce a bounce-back performance at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Cleveland rookie receiver Isaiah Bond sounds confident Sanders will make good on that promise leading up to Sunday.

"He definitely has a soft touch on his ball," Bond added about Sanders. "He definitely has a football touch when it comes to throwing. I think it’s definitely a good opportunity for Shedeur to get out there, and I think he’s definitely prepared. He’s a very, very driven person. So I think his preparation is going to meet the opportunity."

As of Thursday morning, ESPN BET had the Browns as four-point underdogs against the Raiders. Las Vegas was a three-point favorite when that line opened.