Reporter highlights reasons for Browns' handling of Shedeur Sanders

One day after rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders endured a rough outing in the Cleveland Browns' preseason finale versus the Los Angeles Rams, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski essentially scoffed at the idea that he has purposely been sabotaging Sanders' development. 

For an article published on Monday morning, Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer touched upon why the Browns remain committed to handling Sanders like he's a project for the future rather than a signal-caller who could win meaningful games for the club during the upcoming season. 

"The fact is Sanders played in a very basic offense at Jackson State and Colorado," Pluto wrote. "He was always in the shotgun. He rarely huddled. ...The other adjustment left unsaid by the Browns is this is the first time in years Sanders is not coached by his father – Deion Sanders. The Hall of Famer was his son’s offensive coordinator in high school, then head coach at Jackson State and Colorado. [Shedeur] Sanders always knew he was going to start, and not simply because his father was the coach. He also was the most talented QB on the roster. The NFL is a completely different game for the rookie."

Shedeur Sanders entered August buried on the Cleveland depth chart beneath Week 1 starter Joe Flacco, presumed backup Kenny Pickett and 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel. Sanders then played well when he completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8.

However, Sanders took five sacks and completed just 3-of-6 pass attempts for 14 yards against the Rams. Gabriel connected on 12-of-19 passes for 129 yards and a score versus Los Angeles.

"Sanders is not the focal point of the team," Pluto added. "Stefanski has to prepare to open the season in two weeks. Sanders’ two preseason games showed his strength (accurate passing) and weaknesses (not handling the rush and scrambling into damaging sacks). Sanders was sacked 94 times at Colorado in the last two seasons, the most of any Division I QB."

The Browns reportedly will have four quarterbacks on the active roster for their Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. That said, Zac Jackson of The Athletic noted on Saturday that "Pickett and Sanders each come with at least a shred of uncertainty" regarding a potential trade. 

Such a take would seemingly confirm that Stefanski "trusts" Gabriel more than Sanders as it pertains to possibly taking regular-season snaps as soon as next month.