Shedeur Sanders’ Rough Rookie Stretch Raises Bigger Questions in Cleveland
Three games into his run as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback, Shedeur Sanders is still searching for consistency-and answers. Since stepping in for Dillon Gabriel in Week 12, Sanders has managed just one win, and the growing pains have been on full display. But while the spotlight naturally falls on the rookie QB, it's clear that the issues in Cleveland run deeper than one player.
Let’s start with the obvious: the Browns’ offensive line has been a problem all season. Struggles in pass protection have made life difficult not just for Sanders, but also for rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, who’s had limited room to operate behind a line that simply hasn’t held up.
For a first-year quarterback adjusting to NFL speed, that’s a recipe for trouble. And the results have shown it.
Still, not everyone is buying the narrative that Sanders is simply a victim of poor protection. Analyst Jason Whitlock took to social media to question the recurring theme around Sanders and his supporting cast, pointing to similar criticisms during Shedeur’s college career at Colorado.
“I remember when people tweeted this stuff about Colorado's offensive line,” Whitlock posted. “Shedeur shows up and teammates get thrown under busses. Shedeur Sexuals have a pattern.”
That’s a strong accusation, and it gained traction after Sanders’ postgame comments following the Browns’ 31-3 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 15. It was a rough outing across the board, with Sanders completing 18 of 35 passes for 177 yards and three interceptions.
One of those picks came on a third-quarter throw to Jerry Jeudy-one that might’ve gone for six had Jeudy hauled it in. Instead, it was picked off by Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
After the game, Sanders addressed the play with a measured tone.
“I’m not going to kick someone while they’re down,” he said. “He understands it was a big play, and I’m sure he’s hard on himself. So there’s no need for me to be extra and do that.”
Whitlock wasn’t impressed, calling out Sanders again on social media: “Absolutely unreal. He backed a bus over Jeudy while claiming not to.
Bring back the Wonderlic. I’d love to know Shedeur’s score.”
While that criticism may feel personal, others have focused more on the team’s broader dysfunction-particularly at the top. On ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back in his assessment of Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, pointing to a revolving door at quarterback as a sign of deeper issues.
“This man, Kevin Stefanski, was like 11 quarterbacks over the last four years?” Smith said.
“Was something like that? Are you talking about 13 quarterbacks since 2020?
Damn, you can’t find somebody that works?”
He continued, “Baker Mayfield looked pretty damn good without you. You see other quarterbacks, they look relatively decent without you.
And you’re looking at Kevin Stefanski, a two-time Coach of the Year. What’s the problem?”
It’s a fair question. Stefanski has been praised for his offensive mind, but the results just haven’t been consistent. And now, with a rookie quarterback under center and a 3-11 record dragging the Browns to the bottom of the AFC North, the pressure is mounting.
The Browns’ next test comes Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, and while playoff hopes are long gone, the focus shifts to development and evaluation. For Sanders, that means showing growth, even in tough conditions. For Stefanski, it might mean proving he can build something stable-because right now, Cleveland looks anything but.
The talent is there in flashes. But until the Browns figure out how to protect their quarterback, establish a rhythm on offense, and stop the carousel under center, those flashes will remain just that-moments, not momentum.