Browns: Shedeur Sanders will remain as QB1 against the Titans in Week 14

Shedeur Sanders Will Get His Third Consecutive Start with the Browns

The Browns’ rookie quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, will have his third consecutive start next Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski after the team’s 26-8 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Sanders, selected in the 144th pick of this year’s draft, completed 16 of 25 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown in his first home start on Sunday.

I would have to analyze it. Obviously, he is struggling, as all our guys are struggling,” Stefanski said when asked about Sanders’ performance. “I know there are plays he wants back, but we’ll analyze them and correct them.

Kevin Stefanski

The team was open to giving Sanders an extended opportunity for the rest of the season, just as it did with rookie Dillon Gabriel in the first half of the season, when he made six consecutive starts. Stefanski did not commit when asked if Sanders would be the starter for the rest of the season.

Obviously we lost, so I didn’t play well,” Sanders said. “There are definitely things in the film that I’m going to review and want to get back and want to see, but at least going forward I know what we could do differently when approaching the week and being able to be totally, totally prepared for every possibility.

Shedeur Sanders

Sanders threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. late in the second quarter, giving the Browns an 8-7 lead; rookie running back Quinshon Judkins converted a 2-point attempt on a 1-yard run after the 49ers were penalized for too many men on the field. However, Cleveland couldn’t capitalize on the momentum. The Browns trailed 10-8 at halftime and didn’t score in the second half. Even while losing 10-8 with seven minutes remaining, the Browns opted to go for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 33-yard line, but Fannin mishandled the ball on a short-yardage attempt, and the 49ers recovered the ball. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy scored on a 2-yard run nine plays later to put Cleveland down by two scores. This was the second time in the game that the Browns failed on a fourth-and-short attempt; Judkins was stopped on a run from the 49ers’ 20-yard line early in the first quarter when Cleveland was losing 7-0.

At the end of the last quarter, with the Browns losing 26-8, Sanders remained on the ground for a moment after slipping on an attempt to escape. He was helped by a teammate, flexed his legs, and walked off the field on his own, then returned after one play. Gabriel, who started six games before suffering a concussion in Week 11 that kept him out of the next game, came in for Sanders for the only play he was out.

It was just a little ankle problem, but we’re good. We’re good, though,” Sanders said.

Shedeur Sanders

The loss left the Browns with a 3-9 record, ensuring their fourth losing season in six years under Stefanski. It’s also Cleveland’s 23rd losing season in 27 seasons since returning to the NFL in 1999.

“This team isn’t going to be a microwave thing,” Sanders said. “We’re going to have sparks here and there, but it will take time to develop that chemistry with everyone, to be on the same page with [wide receiver] Jerry [Jeudy].

Shedeur Sanders

“Of course, you want to be able to give him the ball, but you have to understand that it takes time. I’m more of a trust person, and that’s what it comes down to. Therefore, we have to dedicate time to the task with all those guys and be able to trust and be able to see things from the same perspective.”