Shedeur Sanders Debut: Reversal After Gabriel’s Concussion with Browns vs Ravens

Shedeur Sanders Debuts with the Browns Amid Adversity

In a match marked by uncertainty, the young Browns quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, made his NFL debut on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. Sanders’ entry came at the beginning of the second half, after Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion. Sanders finished the game with a record of 4 of 16 completed passes, accumulating 47 yards and an interception. In addition, he added 16 yards on three carries. Although the Browns led by six points at halftime, the team suffered a 23-16 defeat.

“I don’t think I played well. I don’t think I played well at all. There are a lot of things we need to analyze during the week to feel comfortable with the routes, especially with Jerry Jeudy and the rest of the guys,” Sanders stated.

Shedeur Sanders

In the final minutes of the game, the Browns advanced to the Ravens’ 25-yard line, but three consecutive incomplete passes, including one on third down aimed at Gage Larvadain in the end zone, frustrated their aspirations. The match culminated in a turnover on downs for Cleveland, allowing the Ravens to secure the victory.

“We trust all of our players. We trust our players to perform. Sanders is no different. It’s difficult to step into that backup quarterback role. We trust him. I know there are things he’ll want to improve, but that’s what we work for,” commented Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski.

Kevin Stefanski

Gabriel, who had been the starter in the previous five games, completed 7 of 10 passes for 68 yards in the first half, as well as running twice for two yards. He was officially ruled out in the third quarter due to the concussion. Stefanski indicated that if Gabriel passes the concussion protocol, he will be the starter in the next game against the Raiders in Las Vegas. Otherwise, Sanders would make his first start in the NFL. The only other quarterback on the roster is Bailey Zappe, who is on the practice squad. The coach did not provide details about Gabriel’s checkup or what caused it, but mentioned that Gabriel was evaluated at halftime. Gabriel slammed his helmet against the ground during a tackle on a run at the end of the first half. After Myles Garrett forced a punt from the Ravens at the start of the second half, Sanders led the offense onto the field, while the fans at Huntington Bank Field cheered him on. During the first half, the fans chanted “We want Shedeur!” and booed after several errant passes by Gabriel. Sanders completed his first two passes, one to Cedric Tillman and another to David Njoku, but was sacked on third down, forcing Cleveland to punt. In their second offensive series, a pass by Sanders was intercepted by Nate Wiggins, although the Browns recovered the ball on the next play thanks to an interception by Carson Schwesinger of a pass by Lamar Jackson.

“I think it was tough overall. It was a tough day, overall. But the exciting thing was being able to go out there. This is the first time I’ve been hit since my last game in Colorado. So, having that feeling back is good, and I feel fulfilled being there, practicing, on the field, seeing what it’s really like. I know I’m made for this,” Sanders declared. According to Stefanski, the second half was the first time Sanders played with the starting offense since he was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 draft. Sanders began his professional career as the fourth quarterback on the Browns’ roster and practiced with the second and third-string players during training camp. Sanders ascended to the backup position after the Browns traded Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals on October 7. Stefanski explained that Sanders was not getting reps with the first team in practice, as the team was focusing on Gabriel’s preparation. “You’re always trying to get your starter ready to play. Certainly, when your starter is a rookie, those reps are very valuable. When your backup is also a rookie, you do everything you can to get our quarterback as many reps as possible,” Stefanski said. Sanders, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and Colorado football coach Deion Sanders, moved into the backup position after the departure of veterans like Flacco and Kenny Pickett. “After the game, he wanted to blame himself and his performance, but we’re not going to let him do that,” Garrett said about Sanders. “It’s a team game, so we’re all in this together.”