Is Browns QB Shedeur Sanders more behind than fans realize?

The Cleveland Browns' trading of quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders caused rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders to rise on the depth chart behind Week 1 starter Joe Flacco. 

However, that was before the Browns reportedly signed signal-caller Bailey Zappe to their practice squad. 

Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand suggested late Wednesday night that Zappe could replace Sanders as the club's QB3 for its Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.

"Zappe spent 11 weeks on the Browns’ practice squad in 2024 and became the 40^th QB to start a game in the franchise’s expansion era when he started the final game [against the Baltimore Ravens]," Grossi wrote. "...The Browns have to declare an emergency No. 3 quarterback for every game. It’s possible they are not quite comfortable yet with Sanders filling that role at the start of the regular season and wanted a veteran quarterback with familiarity of (head coach) Kevin Stefanski’s offense to be their game day No. 3."

Sanders played like a future project as he took five sacks and completed just 3-of-6 pass attempts for 14 yards in Cleveland's preseason finale versus the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 23. Former NFL quarterback Akili Smith said the game film shows that "Gabriel is ahead of" Sanders as it pertains to facing pro defenses. Smith added that Sanders has "a long way to go" before he'll be ready to serve as a starter.

Stefanski previously confirmed that Gabriel, not Sanders, will be Cleveland's primary backup against Cincinnati. The Athletic's Zac Jackson claimed Thursday that "the Browns sent a further message about what they think of Sanders’ readiness for real NFL action Wednesday afternoon when they reached an agreement to add" Zappe to the practice squad.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry recently insisted that "we’re really happy to have Shedeur as part of the program." Berry and Stefanski seemingly aren't in a hurry to give up on Sanders, but the 23-year-old doesn't look close to seeing the field during a regular-season game.