Bears wanted to teach Shedeur Sanders a lesson during blowout win over Browns

Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders and the rest of the Cleveland Browns offense had an afternoon to forget during a 31-3 blowout loss at the Chicago Bears (10-4) that dropped Cleveland to 3-11 on Sunday. 

Following the game, Bears cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson suggested that he and the rest of the Chicago defense wanted to give Sanders some "welcome to the NFL" moments at Soldier Field.

Bears wanted to remind Shedeur Sanders "to stay in a rookie’s place"

"It’s about time he ran into some problems," Gardner-Johnson said about Sanders, per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. "He’s a great young player. They’re a great young group that’s playing hard, physical. He’s just going against a lot of vets that have something to play for. Sometimes you gotta teach a rookie how to stay in a rookie’s place."

In freezing-cold Chicago, Sanders completed 18-of-35 passes for 177 yards with no touchdowns, three interceptions and five sacks taken. In fairness to the first-year pro, one of those picks occurred after wide receiver Jerry Jeudy failed to catch what likely should have been a third-quarter touchdown pass. 

Shedeur Sanders speaks honestly about uncertain future

Sanders has made just four starts and, thus, will still be an unknown commodity when Week 18 wraps up. Cleveland is reportedly expected to hold onto injured veteran signal-caller Deshaun Watson through the upcoming offseason, and the Browns could draft a top-tier quarterback prospect in the spring of 2026. 

Additionally, it's unknown whether or not Browns owner Jimmy Haslam will part ways with head coach Kevin Stefanski and/or general manager Andrew Berry after Cleveland finishes what will be a fourth losing season in five years. Following Monday's defeat, Sanders spoke openly about his uncertain future. 

Shedeur Sanders won't play in fear through Week 18

"You know what league we’re in? You can lose your job at any point in time," Sanders said, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "So you don’t play with fear. When you live and play in fear, then you’ll never be yourself. So I don’t play or live in fear. Whatever situation I’m in, I’m in. Whatever happens, it happens. But I live each moment and try to live each day in the fullest. So never live and worry or fear."

Sanders is on track to start when the Browns host the 10-4 Buffalo Bills on Dec. 21. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Cleveland as a 10-point home underdog for that game.