Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has been named the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week for Week 14, a victory that highlights both his statistical breakout and his massive cultural footprint.
While the fan-vote nature of the award often turns into a popularity contest, an arena where the Sanders brand is undefeated, this week, the numbers backed up the hype.
Despite the Cleveland Browns falling short in the win column against the Tennessee Titans, Sanders delivered a defining performance for his young career. He racked up 393 total yards and accounted for four touchdowns, keeping the Browns competitive in a 31-29 shootout. One score came on the ground, but the other three through the air were vintage Shedeur, displaying the elite ball placement that made him a star at Colorado.
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The rookie’s growth over his last three starts has been undeniable. Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees highlighted this growth, noting that Sanders’ second touchdown pass to Jeudy was actually a repeat of a play that was called on the game’s second drive. The first play resulted in a 17 yard catch by Harold Fannin Jr., another rookie who was up for the award this week.
“It just shows the signs of improvement, our ability to see the coverage, get through a progression, play on time, play within the pocket,” Rees said of his young quarterback.
For Sanders, this award is a small consolation for the loss, but a major signal to the league. The game is slowing down, the reads are becoming clearer, and the rookie is starting to heat up.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns QB Shedeur Sanders wins NFL Offensive Rookie of the Week