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Shedeur Sanders’ Reaction Not Linked to Dillon Gabriel Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Austin C. Boyd | Last updated Oct 1, 2025 3:58 PM ET

The Cleveland Browns are making a quarterback change, but it won't affect Shedeur Sanders. Joe Flacco is being demoted to the No. 2 spot, while Dillon Gabriel will take over as the starter in Week 5.

Sanders remains QB3 for Cleveland. Considering how much weight Sanders' name carries, the fact that he isn't above Flacco on the depth chart has become a big talking point. The young quarterback didn't do himself any favors after the news dropped. During Browns' locker room media availability, Sanders chose to pantomime answers instead of actually answering questions.

This caused many to question his maturity, but there might be more to the story.

After the Browns named Dillon Gabriel their new starting quarterback, Shedeur Sanders reacted with a full mime:
pic.twitter.com/0qa23cpdOb
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 1, 2025

Sanders' Act Was In Response to Rex Ryan

On Monday's episode of ESPN's Get Up, former NFL head coach Rex Ryan blasted Sanders.

“Something’s missing with this kid. This kid talks and he runs his mouth. Like he said, ‘I can be a starting quarterback’ with his arms crossed like this,” Ryan said. “Get your ass in the front row and study and do all that. If I know, the whole league knows. Quit being an embarrassment that way. You’ve got the talent to be the quarterback, you should be. You should be embarrassed that you’re not the quarterback now.”

According to DLLS' Clarence Hill Jr., Sanders was doing the pantomime act in response to Ryan's comments.

His reaction was to the Rex Ryan criticism not Dillon Gabriel becoming the starter https://t.co/lljcAH8kNk
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) October 1, 2025