Shedeur Sanders is only two starts into his NFL career, but the Browns are making one thing clear: they’re rolling with the rookie the rest of the way.
After Sunday’s 26-8 loss to the 49ers, Sanders sits at 1-1 as a starter and is already locked in to lead the offense again this week against the Titans. And while the box score won’t wow you-16-of-25 for 149 yards and a touchdown-there were flashes of growth that Cleveland is banking on as they look beyond a lost season.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski made it clear in his Monday press conference that this is about development now. “I think Shedeur had some really good moments in that football game,” Stefanski said. “There are things that he wants back that we're coaching up right now that he can improve upon.”
Translation: the Browns know the rookie’s going to take some lumps, but they’re betting on his ability to learn from them. That’s the key at this point in the year. With Cleveland sitting at 3-9 and the playoff picture out of reach, the focus shifts to reps, refinement, and getting a real look at what Sanders might be long-term.
There’s no sugarcoating it-this isn’t an easy spot for a young quarterback. The 49ers brought pressure, disguised coverages, and generally made life difficult, as they do for most QBs.
But Sanders held his own in stretches, showing poise in the pocket and a willingness to make the right read rather than force the big play. That’s not nothing.
His completion percentage jumped from 55% in his first start to 64% against San Francisco, and while the yardage dipped (209 to 149), he avoided turnovers and found the end zone once. It’s incremental progress, but that’s often how it works for rookies. Especially those thrown into the fire midseason with a team that’s already struggling.
Stefanski emphasized the importance of experience-seeing more defenses, more coverages, more NFL speed. That’s how quarterbacks grow.
And with Sanders, it’s all about stacking those experiences and building confidence along the way. “Just looking forward to that constant improvement with Shedeur and for all of our young players,” Stefanski said.
It’s a smart approach. The Browns aren’t chasing a playoff spot anymore, but they can still find value in these final games. Sanders getting live reps against NFL defenses-starting with a Tennessee unit that’s physical up front-will go a long way in determining how he fits into Cleveland’s long-term plans.
What that future looks like is still up in the air. But for now, the Browns are giving Sanders the keys and letting him drive. The road won’t be smooth, but every snap is a chance to learn, and that’s exactly what this stretch of the season is about.