Shedeur Sanders Shows Growth, But the Real Test Begins Now
When Browns GM Andrew Berry compared a rookie quarterback’s NFL transition to “being fluent in English and now having to learn Mandarin,” he wasn’t exaggerating. The jump from college to the pros is steep, and for Shedeur Sanders, the early chapters of his NFL education have been both promising and predictably uneven.
Sunday’s matchup against the Tennessee Titans marked Sanders’ third straight start under center for Cleveland. And while the final result didn’t land in the Browns’ favor, the rookie quarterback once again showed signs that he’s getting more comfortable with the language of NFL football.
Finding Rhythm, Then Losing It-Then Finding It Again
Sanders came out sharp in the first half, completing 9-of-14 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. That effort helped Cleveland take a slim lead into halftime, and it looked like the rookie was settling in nicely. But the second half told a different story.
Seven straight drives ended in either a punt or a turnover-four punts, three giveaways. During that stretch, Sanders went just 5-of-18 for 75 yards. The offense stalled, momentum vanished, and the Titans capitalized, flipping the game with a 17-point swing.
But here’s where it gets interesting. With the game slipping away and the Browns down two scores late, Sanders responded.
Over the final two drives, he completed 9-of-10 passes for 109 yards and led two touchdown marches. Yes, those drives were aided by some Titans penalties, but Sanders still had to make the throws-and he did.
“He came up big when we needed him to,” said defensive leader Myles Garrett. “There’s going to be some ups and downs for anyone, especially a rookie. But he looked composed, escaped pressure, broke the pocket, and made some big-time plays.”
That’s what you want to see from a young quarterback: poise under pressure, the ability to bounce back, and flashes of the playmaking instinct that made him a star in college.
Not Just Sanders - The Rookies Are Stepping Up
While Sanders has been at the center of the spotlight, he’s not the only rookie making an impact. On those late scoring drives, several of his fellow first-year teammates stepped up in key moments.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain hauled in a 14-yard pass to set up a score. Running back Dylan Sampson added a 31-yard catch-and-run that sparked the offense.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. capped off one of the drives with a touchdown reception. These aren’t just garbage-time stats-they’re meaningful contributions from a rookie class that’s growing together.
“I think collectively, we kind of got together,” said Sampson. “You can see [Shedeur’s] growth throughout the games.
His mentality is he’s going to go and try to make a play. When you’ve got somebody like that, you’ve got to keep fighting.”
A Soft Landing, But the Climb Gets Steeper
Let’s be real: the Browns couldn’t have drawn up a more favorable three-game stretch to ease a rookie quarterback into the NFL. According to Sumer Sports, the defenses Sanders faced-Las Vegas (No. 26 in EPA/pass), San Francisco (No. 25), and Tennessee (No. 29)-rank near the bottom of the league in pass efficiency.
That’s not to diminish what Sanders has done. He’s taken what the schedule gave him and turned it into valuable reps, flashes of confidence, and clear signs of growth.
As veteran guard Joel Bitonio noted, “His huddle, the cadence, his comfort… he flipped the protection this week and just got things on the same page. That growth is definitely there.”
But the rookie runway is about to end.
Up next? The Chicago Bears, who sit at No. 19 in EPA/pass but lead the league in interceptions.
After that, it’s back-to-back home games against the Buffalo Bills (No. 10 in EPA/pass) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 14)-two defenses that bring pressure, disguise coverage, and punish mistakes. Pittsburgh in particular has a long history of frustrating Cleveland quarterbacks, rookies or otherwise.
This upcoming stretch will be the real test. These aren’t remedial defenses anymore. This is the NFL’s upper division-where windows are tighter, blitzes come faster, and mistakes are amplified.
What’s at Stake
If Sanders continues to trend upward, the Browns may find themselves in a very different position heading into the offseason. Instead of entering the 2026 draft with quarterback uncertainty hanging over the franchise, they could be looking at Sanders as a legitimate option moving forward. That would be a massive win for a team that’s spent years searching for long-term stability at the position.
No one’s crowning him yet. The highs and lows are still coming in waves. But through three starts, Sanders has shown resilience, flashes of brilliance, and the kind of growth that makes you want to see more.
Now comes the next chapter. And it’s written in a much tougher language.