There’s just one week of preseason football remaining and a few days after that before final roster cuts. But after starring for the Cleveland Browns with 138 passing yards and two TDs in preseason Week 1, Shedeur Sanders was injured and unable to play in Week 2. So what’s the outlook for Sanders heading into Week 3?
Sanders has been battling an oblique injury but finally returned to wearing pads this week. Now that he’s mended, it appears that he is in line to get at least some live reps in before the final roster cuts.
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According to ESPN’s Browns insider Daniel Oyefusi, Sanders will play at least some of the team’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams. Per the report, the plan is for Week 1 starter Joe Flacco to start the game, with Dillon Gabriel serving as the backup. Sanders will get time on the field but there is no indication how much. Quarterback Kenny Pickett is still injured.
“Barring any setback, Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders (oblique) will play in Saturday’s preseason finale. Joe Flacco will start and Kevin Stefanski said rookie Dillon Gabriel will be the backup,” Oyefusi wrote.
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Reactions and Predictions
Shedeur Sanders is the most polarizing quarterback taken outside the top-100 of an NFL Draft since probably Kirk Cousins. Though even in 2012, Cousins wasn’t the one getting all of the attention.
As a result, fans have an extremely wide range of reactions to the news and predictions for Sanders’ ultimate fate with the Browns. Some are expecting he earns the starting job soon, while others are still musing that the Browns will cut or trade him:
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“We are days away from the #Browns either keeping 4 QBs or cutting a QB they: – traded a 5th round pick for, drafted in round 3, drafted in round 5. Yikes,” one user wrote.
“If Shedeur does good and is still 3rd or 4th string, he should request a trade and put pressure on the Browns to bet on their 3rd round QB and GM while he bets on himself,” another mused.
“Because obviously Gabriel played so much better with an extra starter or two playing and vs a weaker defense! Let’s go Kevin!” a third wrote.
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“Stefanski and Berry are always going to go with Gabriel over Sanders. He was their guy and Sanders was a Haslam thing I don’t care what he says.”
May 10, 2025; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) throws a pass during rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images© Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Expectations
The Browns are not expected to go particularly far in 2025. Even if the team wasn’t mired in one of the most bizarre quarterback battles in recent memory, the Browns played in a division that had two (nearly three) playoff teams last year and finished tied for the league’s worst record.
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With so few upgrades on the roster and a slew of clear downgrades at key positions, the Browns will be fortunate enough to finish the year with six wins, let alone nine.
2025 will be all about setting the team up for future success. Whether that future includes the head coach, general manager or even the handful of quarterbacks jockeying for position remains to be seen.
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Aug 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.