Shedeur Sanders Injured Early, Dillon Gabriel Steps In as Browns Struggle Against Bills
It was a rough afternoon in Cleveland, and it started unraveling early. Shedeur Sanders, the Browns’ rookie quarterback, exited Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills after injuring his finger during a first-quarter run.
That opened the door for fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, who took the field for the first time since suffering a concussion on Nov. 19.
The reception? Let’s just say it wasn’t warm.
Gabriel, a third-round pick, was met with a chorus of boos from the home crowd at Huntington Bank Field. According to reports, the frustration seemed less about Gabriel himself and more about the confusion surrounding Sanders’ sudden exit. Many fans likely didn’t realize Sanders was dealing with a legitimate injury - he reportedly ripped off his pinky nail while going down at the end of a 10-yard scramble.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for Gabriel. On his very first snap, he was sacked, and the boos only got louder.
Cleveland managed to salvage the drive with a field goal, but the tone had already been set. Sanders later returned to the game with a bandaged finger, but the Browns’ momentum - and their health - had already taken a hit.
Injuries Pile Up for Cleveland
The Browns didn’t just lose their quarterback, even if only temporarily. A few minutes after Sanders went down, standout rookie running back Quinshon Judkins suffered a lower leg injury following a tough hit. He was visibly in pain and had to be carted off the field - a major blow to a Cleveland offense that’s already been searching for consistency.
With Judkins out and Sanders banged up, the Browns had to lean on a shuffled lineup against one of the AFC’s hottest teams. And the Bills wasted no time capitalizing.
Buffalo Takes Control
Sanders’ first drive was promising - he went 5-for-5 for 58 yards and capped it with a touchdown. But after that, the Bills took over. James Cook broke through the middle for a 44-yard touchdown run to tie things at 7-7, and the momentum swung hard in Buffalo’s favor.
Later in the half, a short pass from Sanders bounced off Judkins’ chest and into the arms of Bills safety Jordan Poyer. Buffalo didn’t waste the opportunity. Ty Johnson punched in a 2-yard touchdown, and Cook added his second score of the half to push the lead to 20-10 by halftime.
Sanders finished the first half 11-of-16 for 109 yards with one touchdown and one interception. But with Judkins sidelined and the offense sputtering, the Browns faced an uphill battle heading into the second half.
A Tough Stretch for Sanders and the Browns
After a strong debut win over the Raiders, Sanders has hit a wall. Barring a second-half comeback, Sunday would mark his fourth straight loss as a starter. The Browns, now staring down a potential four-game skid, are watching their playoff hopes slip further out of reach.
Injuries haven’t helped, but the bigger concern might be how this young offense responds to adversity. Sanders has shown flashes of high-level play, but the turnovers and lack of rhythm have been costly. And now, with Judkins potentially out for an extended stretch, the pressure on Sanders - and Gabriel, if called upon again - only intensifies.
Cleveland came into this game needing a spark. Instead, they got more questions.