Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders speaks with coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at minicamp June 11, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Browns HC, Shedeur Sanders clear air on controversial benching during two-minute drill

By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Aug 24, 2025 9:04 AM ET

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders appeared to be frustrated with Kevin Stefanski when the head coach took him out for the final offensive drive of Saturday's preseason game.

The Browns made a curious decision to put in Tyler Huntley to lead the offense in the final two minutes of their final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at Huntington Bank Field.

Huntley, who has almost no chance of making the 53-man roster, engineered a six-play, 46-yard drive that e nded in a game-winning field goal to give the Browns a 19-17 win.

Following the game, Stefanski was asked about why Sanders approached him before Huntley went in. Stefanski claimed the rookie quarterback was just being a competitor, and there was nothing more to it than that, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

#Browns Stefanski on Shedeur Sanders approaching him on the sidelines before Tyler Huntley went in for the 2 minute drill: “He’s a competitive kid.” Said it’s nothing more than that.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 23, 2025

Sanders told reporters he didn't know the Browns were benching him for the two-minute drill.

"I didn't know I was out, Sanders said via video from ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. "I was on a bike that was powering up... I was powering up for that two-minute drive. Because that's just a situation every quarterback dreams for... I thought I was in. So then (Stefanski) told me I wasn't in. I was like, 'Ok.'"

Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders talks about not going back in for the 2-minute drill pic.twitter.com/ad4mGPMavJ
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) August 23, 2025

Sanders left the game after leading the offense to five straight punts. He struggled in his second preseason appearance, going 3-of-6 passing for 14 yards. The fifth-round pick took six sacks for -50 yards.

Sanders didn't want to leave on that low note. The Browns shouldn't have let him. Stefanski should have given Sanders the chance to run the two-minute offense and gain valuable experience instead of giving reps to a player who won't be on the roster by Tuesday afternoon.

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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