Shedeur Sanders, the Cleveland Browns’ rookie quarterback, showcased his potential during his first home start on Sunday, despite the team suffering a loss. Makers completed 16 of 25 passes for 149 yards. He tossed a jaw-dropping 34-yard touchdown strike to Harold Fannin Jr., which became one of the biggest bolts of electricity in a difficult year for the Browns.
Drafted as the 144th overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, Sanders showed calm under pressure and grit on the battlefield. His performance was capped off by an interception-free outing, one that many New Orleans fans saw as a great sign for the young quarterback’s future. He remained candid about the team’s overall performance, stating, “Obviously we lost, so I ain’t play well.”
It’s worth noting that Sanders was under siege throughout the contest. He briefly remained on the ground after making a slide-on-the-run QB scramble deep in the fourth quarter. Fortunately, he did come back after missing only a play. Sanders looks back on his candidacy and accomplishments. Most importantly, he accepted that he learned some extremely helpful things to inform his own efforts to get better going forward.
“It was just a little ankle, but we good. We good, though.” – Shedeur Sanders
Coach Kevin Stefanski praised Sanders’ resolve and development, recognizing the pressure on the rookie’s shoulders. “Obviously, he’s battling, like all of our guys are battling,” Stefanski said in reference to the team’s struggles.
Despite the loss, Sanders emphasized the need for patience in developing chemistry with his teammates, particularly with wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. He stated, “This team is not going to be a microwave thing. We’re going to have sparks here and there, but it’s going to take time to be able to develop that chemistry with everybody.”
As the season wears on, inevitable questions arise about Sanders’ long-term plans. Is he now the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season? When pressed on what he would do going forward, Stefanski wouldn’t commit. The doubt further injects urgency into Sanders’s situation. He just continues to react to and evolve with the changing requirements of being an NFL quarterback.
In Sanders’ first home start, his performance was a microcosm of positivity and growing pains all at once. He expressed confidence in his abilities and the team’s future direction. “I’m more of a trust person, and that’s just what it boils down to,” he said. So, we just have to spend enough time on task with all those fellas and ladies and be able to build trust and be able to sort of see things through the same lens.
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