Shedeur Sanders’ Unique Habits, Rookie Ups and Downs, and a Sideline Flashpoint in Cleveland
Shedeur Sanders is still settling into life as an NFL quarterback, but he’s already showing fans that he does things his own way-on and off the field.
In a recent behind-the-scenes clip, Shilo Sanders gave fans a glimpse into his younger brother’s gameday routine, including a surprising detail: Shedeur prefers plastic silverware when eating out. Why?
According to the Browns’ rookie QB, he’s not a fan of touching utensils that have been used by dozens of other people, even if they’ve been washed. “He’s a plastic silverware type of guy,” Shilo said with a laugh.
“Real men just eat with what they’re given.” It’s a small detail, but one that speaks to Shedeur’s hyper-awareness of his health and routine-something that’s often a hallmark of elite-level athletes.
That focus seemed to pay off in his NFL debut. Sanders came out strong in his first start under center for the Cleveland Browns, throwing for 209 yards and a touchdown in a 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
It was a composed, confident performance-the kind of start every rookie dreams of. He looked poised in the pocket, made smart decisions, and showed flashes of the arm talent that made him such a high-profile prospect.
But as is often the case with rookie quarterbacks, the NFL has a way of humbling you quickly.
In Week 13, Sanders and the Browns ran into a buzzsaw in the San Francisco 49ers. Cleveland dropped to 3-9 after a 26-8 home loss, and the game was a grind from start to finish.
Sanders completed 16 of 25 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown, but he was sacked three times and struggled to consistently move the ball against one of the league’s most physical defenses. The growing pains were visible-and so was the frustration.
At one point during the game, cameras caught wide receiver Jerry Jeudy voicing his frustrations with Sanders on the sideline. It wasn’t a great look, but it’s not uncommon when a team is losing and the offense is sputtering. Emotions run high, especially for a team that’s trying to find its footing late in a tough season.
Postgame, things got even more tense. When Sanders was asked about head coach Kevin Stefanski’s decision to go for it on fourth down deep in their own territory, the rookie didn’t hold back.
“I mean first, that’s a rude question to ask-if I think it was a great call by my coach,” Sanders responded, clearly irritated. It was a moment that showed both his passion and his inexperience when it comes to navigating the media spotlight.
Despite the loss and the sideline drama, Stefanski was quick to shut down any talk of a quarterback change. He confirmed that Sanders would remain the starter heading into Week 14, signaling continued confidence in the rookie’s development.
There’s no question that Shedeur Sanders has the talent to succeed at this level. The challenge now is weathering the ups and downs that come with being a young quarterback in the NFL.
The tools are there. The leadership is developing.
And if nothing else, he’s already proving that he’s going to do it his way-right down to the silverware.