The Shedeur Sanders conversation isn’t slowing down anytime soon, and now it’s pulling in voices from outside the NFL. On Monday, Julian Lewis’ mother stepped into the fray, using social media to push back against what she called offseason “rage bait” - specifically aimed at the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback situation, which has become a daily drama for some local media outlets.
The timing? Not exactly a coincidence.
Browns star pass rusher Myles Garrett had just thrown his support behind Sanders, calling him the frontrunner for the starting quarterback job. That endorsement stirred the pot, and the reaction online was swift.
Lewis’ mother retweeted a fan urging people to tune out the noise, then added her own message: “Shedeur is enjoying his time away and if you support him take time off from battling certain Cleveland Browns media outlets,” she wrote. “They allll need us to comment daily.
Rest up for the return of our quarterback.”
It was a clear call to stop feeding the engagement machine - a reminder that not every offseason headline needs to be a battleground.
Meanwhile, Lewis himself showed love for Sanders and new Browns head coach Todd Monken on Sunday. “Shedeur Sanders, keep going, twin!”
he posted on X. “Todd Monken always gave me great advice!”
That connection goes back to Monken’s time at Georgia, where he recruited Lewis and built a relationship that clearly left an impression.
Now, back to Sanders - a player who’s as polarizing as he is promising. Last season, he went 3-4 as a starter, and the numbers tell a mixed story: 10 interceptions to just seven touchdowns.
But if you’re looking for upside, Week 14 against Tennessee is your exhibit A. Sanders lit it up for over 350 passing yards, three touchdowns through the air, and added a rushing score.
It was the Browns’ only 300-yard passing performance all season - a glimpse at what he could become if everything clicks.
Garrett sees that potential and believes Sanders deserves the first shot. But Monken isn’t ready to make that call just yet.
At his introductory press conference, he was asked directly if Sanders is QB1. His answer?
Diplomatic. “That’s still to be determined,” he said.
He mentioned that elusive “it” factor, but stopped well short of naming a starter.
And it’s not like the quarterback room is empty. Deshaun Watson is finally healthy after two injury-riddled seasons and enters the final year of his deal.
Dillon Gabriel is in the mix too, coming off a rookie season where he played it safe and avoided turnovers. Sanders, by contrast, was more aggressive - pushing the ball downfield, but also turning it over more than the coaches would like.
So here’s where things stand: Sanders has the offseason to learn Monken’s system, sharpen his decision-making, and show he can take care of the football. But come training camp in August, the job won’t be handed to him. He’ll have to earn it.
The fatigue around the Browns’ quarterback saga is real - and Lewis’ mother voicing it publicly is just the latest sign. But for Sanders, this is still a massive opportunity.
If he can put it all together, he might just be the answer Cleveland’s been searching for. Until then, the battle for QB1 is very much alive.