Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Gets Honest After Tough NFL Debut

In a surprising twist to the Cleveland Browns’ ongoing quarterback saga, fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders stepped onto the NFL stage for the first time during Sunday’s 23-16 defeat against the Baltimore Ravens.

The debut came in the third quarter when initial starter Dillon Gabriel exited the game due to a concussion, finally delivering the on-field appearance that supporters had been clamoring for throughout the year.

Gabriel, selected in the third round of the draft, had been under center since Week 5 following the benching and subsequent trade of veteran Joe Flacco. In the opening half, he connected on 7 of 10 attempts for 68 yards prior to heading to the sideline for medical checks.

Sanders, who experienced an unexpected drop in the draft before landing with Cleveland, had remained on the bench without a single regular-season play until this matchup.

Speaking to the media after the game, Sanders shared his thoughts on stepping into professional action at last.

“It was a rough day overall,” Sanders said. “But the thing that I was excited about is just being able to get out there. It’s the first time I got hit since my last game at Colorado. So just having that feeling back is good… I know I’m made for it.”

“Going out there in a live game… And the way the guys, the way the whole line, running back, receivers, defense, all rallied around, that’s all you can ask for as a quarterback,” he said.

The atmosphere at Huntington Bank Field electrified when Sanders took over from Gabriel, yet his initial performance fell short of expectations. He ended the contest with four completions out of 16 attempts for 47 yards, including one pick and two sacks.

Among his successes were quick throws to wideout Cedric Tillman and tight end David Njoku, plus a notable 25-yard strike downfield to Harold Fannin Jr. However, a fumble occurred after a takedown by Baltimore’s Kyle Hamilton, contributing to a dismal 13.5 quarterback rating for the afternoon.

With Gabriel sidelined by injury, opportunities now arise for Sanders to vie for the starting role in upcoming evaluations—a shift that aligns with persistent fan advocacy.

Cleveland’s 2-8 record complicates matters for the coaching staff: Stick with Gabriel for consistency upon his potential return, or commit to Sanders to fast-track his growth in a campaign that’s already fading?

The Browns’ remaining slate provides no easy outs, featuring away contests in Las Vegas, Cincinnati, and Chicago, alongside home clashes with San Francisco, Tennessee, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh.

These games will challenge the team’s competitiveness amid a quarterback position that continues to lack clarity.