Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Browns held Shedeur Sanders out of team drill due to arm injury

By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Aug 2, 2025 11:43 AM ET

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is dealing with an arm issue at an inopportune time.

The rookie is sitting at No. 4 on the Browns' depth chart early in August. Sanders, who fell to the fifth round of April's draft, needs to take advantage of every rep he can at training camp to make his case that he deserves playing time.

On Saturday, Sanders ran sprints after practice with several of his teammates after missing "Hungry Dawgs" reps. He only threw passes during the installation period in the early portion of practice, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

Only veteran quarterback Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel took reps during the team period. Kenny Pickett missed the period as he rehabs from a hamstring injury, and Sanders was kept out due to arm soreness.

"Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel took all the team reps today with Kenny Pickett (hamstring) and Shedeur Sanders (arm soreness) both sitting them out," Cabot posted on X.

Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel took all the team reps today with Kenny Pickett (hamstring) and Shedeur Sanders (arm soreness) both sitting them out.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 2, 2025

Third-round pick Gabriel took advantage of his extra opportunity with Sanders sidelined. He received reps with the first-team offense.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated suggested the race between Sanders and Gabriel isn't close at the moment.

"I don't know how many times I have to say this, but it's reality—Dillon Gabriel is ahead of Shedeur Sanders right now, and has been since both arrived in Cleveland," Breer posted on X. "Sanders has worked to catch up, but he's got a lot of ground to make up."

I don't know how many times I have to say this, but it's reality—Dillon Gabriel is ahead of Shedeur Sanders right now, and has been since both arrived in Cleveland. Sanders has worked to catch up, but he's got a lot of ground to make up. https://t.co/qXT6NC0TAo
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 2, 2025

Unfortunately for Sanders, he cannot catch up ground on Gabriel, Pickett or Flacco by missing practice time due to arm soreness. That's an issue he'll have to play through if he wants to become the eventual starter in Cleveland or for another league team.

Jordan Sigler

Jordan Sigler is a sports writer with a decade of experience as a journalist, including his time as a breaking news/day cops reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. His sports coverage across the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, and college football world has also been featured at ChiCitySports, Gridiron Heroics, Pro Football Network, and Athlon Sports. Based in Austin, Texas, Jordan graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from Texas Tech University in 2014

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