The Cleveland Browns may have dropped a tough one to the 49ers this past Sunday, but the bigger story coming out of that 26-8 loss wasn’t just on the scoreboard - it was on the sideline. Cameras caught rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders and veteran wide receiver Jerry Jeudy in what looked like a heated exchange after a missed deep shot early in the game. But if you ask head coach Kevin Stefanski, there’s no drama here - just football.
“Football’s an emotional sport,” Stefanski told reporters Monday. “When you’re a family like we are, you’re going to have your disagreements.
Sometimes they happen in front of everyone, sometimes they’re behind closed doors. But like a family, we move on.”
That missed connection in the first quarter - a deep ball that had the potential to put Cleveland on the board early - was a moment Sanders and Jeudy both wanted back. Jeudy finished the day with just three catches on four targets for 26 yards.
It wasn’t the breakout performance the Browns hoped for, especially against a San Francisco defense that doesn’t give you many chances. But Stefanski wasn’t reading too much into the sideline moment.
“That’s nothing new in football,” he said. “You’ve got plays where guys see things differently.
You talk through it, you look at the tape, and you get on the same page. That’s all it is.”
In other words, the Browns aren’t sweating it - and neither should anyone else. Disagreements like this happen on every team, every week. What matters is how players respond, and for Sanders, the focus is clearly on growth.
The rookie out of Colorado is still finding his rhythm in a Browns offense that’s had more than its share of turbulence this season. Sanders went 16-of-25 for 149 yards and a touchdown against the 49ers - not a flashy stat line, but efficient in stretches. He’s now 1-1 as a starter, and Stefanski has already confirmed he’ll be under center again this Thursday when the Browns host the 1-11 Tennessee Titans.
But the long-term picture at quarterback? That’s still a bit murky.
Stefanski hasn’t committed to Sanders as the starter for the rest of the season, leaving the door open - at least slightly - for a potential return by fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel started the year as QB1 but struggled to a 1-5 record before a concussion sidelined him in mid-November. Sanders has shown flashes in his two starts, and Stefanski likes what he’s seeing in terms of development.
“I’m pleased with his progress,” Stefanski said. “He wants to continue to get better and better, and that’s the right attitude to have. That’s why we’ll continue to work.”
There’s no quarterback controversy brewing just yet, but the Browns are clearly evaluating week to week. Sanders has a chance to build on his performance against a Titans team that’s struggled all season. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Cleveland is a 4.5-point favorite at home - a sign that oddsmakers believe Sanders and this Browns team can get back on track.
The chemistry between Sanders and Jeudy will be something to watch moving forward. These moments - the missed throws, the sideline talks, the growing pains - are all part of the process for a young quarterback trying to establish himself in the league. And if Sanders wants to lock down this job for good, he’ll need to turn those tough conversations into on-field connections.
For now, the Browns are sticking with their rookie - and trusting that time, reps, and maybe a few more of those sideline chats will get this offense where it needs to be.