Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Shedeur Sanders Gets Opinion He Won't Like After Making Browns Roster

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashutosh Kadam | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 10:56 AM ET

While Shedeur Sanders is trying to get up after Kevin Stefanski's QB3 update, a Cleveland reporter dropped a bold take on the Cleveland Browns’ QB situation. First up, the franchise landed a quite predictable update on Aug. 28, when it declared Sanders QB3 and not a backup.

Secondly, NFL analyst Greg Cosell, who has been in the NFL for a long time, also talked about how Stefanski is impressed with backup quarterback Dillon Gabriel's performance and style. On the "Ross Tucker Podcast," Cosell added an insider take on the competition between Sanders and Gabriel.

“Yeah, well, he [Dillon Gabriel] fits Kevin Stefanski”, Cosell said. And added, “And Stefanski really liked him coming out because of the way in which he plays. Gabriel is purely a timing rhythm player. That’s the way Stefanski sees his offense, and there’s a ton of play action in his offense.” So, after these two recent developments in the story of Sanders’ quest to be the backup QB and then a starter, Cleveland reporter Aaron Goldhammer dropped his point of view and prediction on the development.

“I think Joe Flacco might start all 17 games.” Goldhammer started. “I think the coach is going to want to win. And if the coach wants to win, he's going to want to give the player the best chance to win. Flacco doesn't exactly have a long injury history here. And so, if they're going to win eight games like Tony Grossi predicted in the fearless forecast," the reporter added, “and you're in it until December, I don't see why you would start turning things over to five, nine quarterbacks or guys who are clearly developmental projects.”

"I think Joe Flacco might start all 17 games," - @HammerNation19 has a BOLD take about the Browns.

Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/i5b51nUZLC
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) September 2, 2025

This holds Gabriel's and Sanders’ future in the 2025 NFL season in jeopardy. Gabriel was declared as backup and might get an opportunity to play as a starter if injury takes down Flacco. But looking at Flacco's injury history , the last time Flacco was injured was on Oct. 27, 2019, when he hurt his "cervical spine disc" against the Indianapolis Colts. Then again, the fans are also dubious about Flacco's age and his ability to move as the Browns' starting QB turned 40 on Jan. 16.

But there is a catch…

Flacco was durable early in his career. He played all 16 games in nine of his first 10 seasons as the Baltimore Ravens quarterback (the league moved to a 17-game season in 2021). But after the 2018 NFL season, Flacco never played 10 games in a season. The highest number of games he played was in 2018: nine games. So, Aaron Goldhammer's take looks questionable, but no one can deny the possibility, as both the QB2 and QB3 are rookies.

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

More must-reads: