Shedeur Sanders going 'full mime' shows that concerns are valid

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

Shedeur Sanders going 'full mime' shows that concerns about him are valid

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Oct 2, 2025 8:02 AM ET

Did someone hit the mute button on rookie Shedeur Sanders after the Cleveland Browns made a quarterback change on Wednesday?

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed they're benching QB Joe Flacco after he went 1-3 in four starts and starting rookie QB Dillon Gabriel in Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings (2-2). Sanders remains the team's QB3.

Shortly after, reporters asked Sanders about the team not moving him up the depth chart. It seemed the decision left him speechless.

Shedeur Sanders went full mime after Browns' QB decision

Sanders mouthed silent answers to reporters' questions while smiling for nearly a minute. For anyone who is adept at reading lips, please let Cleveland media members know if he said anything.

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, 23, was reportedly doing the gag out of spite. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the former Colorado Buffaloes star was pantomiming in response to ESPN analyst Rex Ryan. The former New York Jets HC ripped the QB on "Get Up" earlier this week.

Shedeur Sanders pantomiming today was in response to ESPN analyst Rex Ryan criticizing the rookie QB earlier this week. Here is what Ryan said Monday on Get Up that led to Sanders pantomiming answers today about Cleveland’s QB change and him remaining QB3: pic.twitter.com/MDRWz8hb4h
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 1, 2025

Regardless, the joke is another bad look for Sanders. And it validates a concern teams had about him during the predraft process: his immaturity.

Shedeur Sanders' maturity concerns are one thing that has prevented QB from becoming Browns' starter

Sanders was considered a potential first-round pick before the 2025 NFL Draft but fell to pick No. 144 in the fifth round. He reportedly "bombed" team interviews during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February, contributing to his draft-day slide.

His poor interviewing skills have been on full display in Cleveland. Last week, he said he's capable of playing better than many starting QBs in the league.

Sure, Sanders may have the talent to become a solid starting QB. In two seasons at Colorado, he completed 71.8% of his passes, the best mark in a career in FBS history.

However, franchises don't want their QB to generate controversy or act childishly. Can you imagine QBs Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) or Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) miming answers to reporters? Yeah, didn't think so.

Ryan's comments angered Sanders, but that doesn't matter. To become a starter, he must learn to elevate above the noise, not make more of it. Well, he didn't make any noise on Wednesday, but the point stands.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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