Shedeur Sanders may be viewed by Browns coaches and decision makers as the team’s QB3, but fans continue to show him love as if he’s QB1.
This week the organization announced that Joe Flacco would be its Week 1 starter, as well as the starting signal-caller for Cleveland’s preseason finale. But the real headline was that third-round pick Dillon Gabriel would slot in as second-in-command in Saturday’s exhibition game vs. the LA Rams.
Advertisement
Gabriel is coming off a performance in which he completed 13-of-18 passes for 143 yards with a pick-six and a lost fumble in a 22-13 win. While Shedeur went 14-of-23 for 138 yards and two scores in the Browns’ opening week victory over the Panthers.
Aug 8, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) celebrates his touchdown pass against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium.Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images.
Now taking the field in Cleveland for the first time since falling to the 144th overall pick, fans at Huntington Bank Field stuck around to see the son of the Hall of Famer take his first snaps in his home stadium at the start of the third quarter.
Advertisement
Shedeur Sanders enters the game
Sanders didn’t play at all in Week 2’s preseason game due to an oblique injury, so fans were understandably eager to see No. 12 make his next appearance.
They finally got that in the second half as their team nursed a 16-7 lead over Los Angeles behind a pair of touchdowns from Flacco and Gabriel.
Fans react online
“Let’s go Shedeur Sanders! It’s always so hyped when he plays. I’m going to tune in to watch,” a user shared.
Advertisement
“Best QB4 in the league,” another said.
“Prime Time Jr. takes the field 👀🔥” a fan announced.
“👀” NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport replied.
“This is what they don’t like … They came to the game for him,” another person claimed.
“Not having him as their starter is truly baffling,” another user commented.
Early struggles
As happy as fans were to see Shedeur close out the preseason, the Browns offense had real issues protecting him.
Sanders was sacked five times for 41 yards in his limited action — while completing just three of his six pass attempts for 14 yards with only a couple minutes to go.
Advertisement
Compare that to Gabriel and Flacco’s 100+ passer ratings in the first couple of quarters and you have a quarterback battle that’s all but closed heading into the regular season.
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Aug 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.