Browns' Shedeur Sanders addresses chemistry with Jerry Jeudy after sideline exchange

Early in Sunday's game between the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers, Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders missed veteran wide receiver Jerry Jeudy on a deep pass that could have resulted in a touchdown. Later in the contest, television cameras picked up Jeudy and Sanders having what seemed to be a heated exchange on the sideline. 

Following Cleveland's 26-8 loss that dropped the club to 3-9 on the season, Sanders addressed building chemistry with Jeudy and other offensive teammates as a developing first-year pro.

Shedeur Sanders still needs time to click with receivers

"As players and teammates, we have to be able to jell with each other and be comfortable with each other in every situation," Sanders explained, per Alex Valdes of The Athletic. "That takes time. It takes a lot of things. We’re going to have sparks, but it’s going to take time to develop that chemistry with everybody, to be on the same page with Jerry. Of course, you want to be able to get him the ball, but to be honest, it’s going to take time. I’m more of a trust person, and that’s what it boils down to."

Sanders only made his regular-season debut on Nov. 16 and was making the second start of his young career on Sunday. Against the 49ers, he completed 16-of-25 passes for 149 yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile, Jeudy caught three of four targets for 26 yards. 

"Obviously, we lost, so I ain't play well," Sanders said about his performance against San Francisco, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. "There's definitely things on film I'm going to look back and want to get back and want to see, but at least moving forward, I know what we could do differently going about the week and being able to get fully, fully prepared for every possibility."

Fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel went 1-5 as Cleveland's QB1 before he suffered a concussion on Nov. 16 that opened the door for Sanders to receive playing time. In his first career start, Sanders completed 11-of-20 passes for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 24-10 win at the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 23. 

Will additional first-team practice reps help Shedeur Sanders improve for Week 14?

Shortly after Sunday's game wrapped up, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Sanders will start when Cleveland hosts the Tennessee Titans (1-11) on Dec. 7. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Browns as 4.5-point home favorites for that game. 

"A lot of times out there, passing-wise, we aren’t seeing things at the same lens," Sanders added. "Certain guys aren’t in the same spot that we’ve seen when we practice."