Browns Giving Shedeur Sanders Another Start, Even With Dillon Gabriel Healthy

What They're Saying

Jason Lloyd, Cleveland columnist for The Athletic, before the announcement: "Shedeur Sanders has to start next week. ... It isn't that Sanders dazzled in his starting debut ... it's that he is the only player on the roster preventing the Browns from revisiting their options at quarterback next offseason. ... It's time to at least see more from the most polarizing player in last year's draft."

Unnamed coach from another team to The Athletic's Mike Sando: "The nicest play was the scramble against the unblocked blitzer for the 52-yard gain. He felt the pressure immediately and got away to his right, threw a nice ball without getting his feet set."

Sando: "On the downside, the interception Sanders threw in the second quarter could have been a killer against a good team. It was one reason Cleveland ranked ahead of only the Raiders, Vikings, and Buccaneers in offensive EPA per play (-0.25) in Week 12."

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

The 52-yard completion to WR Isaiah Bond (referenced above) was a particularly encouraging play for the rookie QB.

One of the biggest knocks on his scouting profile -- perhaps the biggest, at least football wise -- was his propensity for drifting backward when pressured in the pocket, holding onto the ball, and losing loads of yardage in search of a play to be made.

That play accounted for 24.9% of Sanders' passing yards vs. the Raiders. A 66-yard connection with RB Dylan Sampson made up another 31.6%, despite starting with a completion behind the line of scrimmage.

That Sampson catch also supplied Cleveland's lone passing TD.

So keep your stat expectations in check for Sanders' second start. He'll get a weak San Francisco defense, at least: 25th in total DVOA (heading into Monday night); 25th against the pass.