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Shedeur Sanders Earns Nickname From NFL After Browns Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Nov 24, 2025 8:52 PM ET

Shedeur Sanders’ big moment finally came on Sunday as the rookie quarterback made his first career start for the Cleveland Browns. It was a long time coming, and the 23-year-old made sure to take advantage by helping lead the Browns to a 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Sanders, who got the nod to start after fellow rookie QB Dillon Gabriel was placed under the concussion protocol, completed 11-of-20 passes for 209 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The former Colorado Buffaloes star also grabbed attention with his 52-yard dime to Isaiah Bond, as Sanders showed off his deep-ball power.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) looks on during warm up.Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Gabriel officially cleared the concussion protocol after being forced to sit out one game. However, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski already announced that Sanders will get the start again for Cleveland’s next game. This comes in the form of a Week 13 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

This development prompted a post from the NFL dedicated to the Browns’ new QB1 — at least for now. Sanders earned himself a nickname from the league as he prepares for his second career start.

“Showtime Shedeur ⌚” the NFL posted, sharing Sanders’ highlights from the Raiders game.

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Sanders will get another chance to prove his worth on Sunday. He did well enough to earn himself a second consecutive start, and it appears that the QB1 role is now within grasp for the fifth-round pick.

The Browns have nothing more to play for this season. Despite their win over the Raiders, Cleveland is 3-8 and is 13th in the AFC. Mathematically speaking, the Browns have not been eliminated from playoff contention, but they currently have less than 1% chance of making the postseason.

This should work in Sanders’ favor as Cleveland leans towards player development. Depending on how he performs against the Niners on Sunday, Sanders could potentially make his case as the team’s starting quarterback the rest of the way.

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

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