Should he play, Aaron Rodgers’ goal will be to hand Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns a loss Sunday. But removing himself from the task at end, Rodgers had plenty of praise for the job Sanders has done his first season.
“I follow Shedeur [Sanders], his career,” Rodgers said via a team-provided transcript Wednesday. “I mean, any football fan had watched him go from Jackson to Boulder, and that being kind of a former Pac-12 school, obviously was pulling for him.”
With deep football knowledge and appreciation for player journeys and stories, it’s no surprise that Rodgers has kept close tabs on Sanders. Especially once Sanders joined Rodgers in the AFC North. Or more correctly, once Rodgers joined the North, considering he signed months after Sanders was drafted. Once Cleveland’s fourth-string quarterback, Sanders has climbed the ladder to start the rest of the season.
While his play has been bumpy, Sanders’ willingness to push the ball downfield has refreshed Cleveland’s offense compared to Dillon Gabriel’s tenure in the lineup. Rodgers praised Sanders for handling the potholes.
“There’s a tough draft slide, obviously, much longer wait than mine was,” Rodgers said. “It seems like he’s been patient and worked on his craft, and he’s been playing pretty good the last few weeks.”
Rodgers had to wait until late in the first round to be picked by the Green Bay Packers. Sanders had to wait until the fifth round. He’ll hope that slide was a fortunate one in the long run. Rodgers found a home in Green Bay while Sanders is trying to become a pillar for a Browns quarterback position that goes through passers like socks.
Sanders played a competitive game last week against the Buffalo Bills, smartly hitting his checkdowns and taking a profit. He showed his scrambling ability, too, and is growing in the offense. Upsetting Aaron Rodgers, should he play and the game mean something to Pittsburgh, would be a topper of a rookie season.