Shedeur Sanders, offense and Browns roster thoughts
Training camp for the Cleveland Browns officially started last week and continued through Wednesday afternoon before a day off on Thursday. A lot has happened throughout camp, but the real action began when the team practiced in full pads after starting out in “shells” (Shells are basically helmets, jerseys, and shorts).
It’s early in Browns training camp, but it’s a lot to discuss and a lot more to happen before the team’s Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
New Year, new mindset
If there is one thing that has been repeated throughout this training camp by multiple beat reporters and rumblings, it is one word specifically: Intensity!
That’s it for Browns training camp practice No. 5. Much different intensity from the first day of pads compared to last year at the Greenbrier. All QBs had their moments today.
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) July 28, 2025
#Browns QB Joe Flacco on the intensity of camp this year:
“I think what we’re talking about is just the mindset of a winner and a winning football team and what that takes…There’s a way that a winning team takes a field and approaches their craft.” pic.twitter.com/5f1bTMaG38
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) July 24, 2025
Brown OL Joel Bitonio: “We talked about intensity. We talked about energy. … We’re gonna have a high intensity, physical training camp.” pic.twitter.com/uE7puFhMVZ
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) July 23, 2025
Judging from last year’s camp, the intensity wasn’t there as it should have been (you can decide for yourself why that was the case), but this year seems different. Having a competitive camp can help bring the best out of everyone, as well as boost team morale in some cases. Having a camp with this amount of intensity can help the team in terms of having them more battle-tested.
Expect the intensity to continue when the joint practices start up soon, which could lead to some feisty interactions.
Offense has a mixed bag of days
It has been a topic since training camp started. How will the offense look?
It’s been a mixed bag. Early on, the offense has looked rough. Recently, it has started to look better. For those who are panicking, don’t.
Keep in mind, the offense that is being installed isn’t the same offense that was being run last year. It’s an adjustment period for everyone on the offensive side of the ball. Looking better recently is a good thing and a sign that the adjustment is coming along to the new offense.
Stacking days and continuing to get better should be the main goal for the offense, considering how the offense is not going to be caught up like the defense is.
Shedeur Sanders and his QB reps
It was going to be a talking point. Considering that the Browns drafted two rookie QBs, the topic of how many reps the QBs were going to receive was going to be a topic of discussion.
I kept track of how many sets of team drills each Browns QB received through Week 1 of training camp. I think it will be a good sense of how the staff is prioritizing the QB battle as time goes on.
By my unofficial count, Cleveland ran 42 sets of team drills (11v11, 7v7,…
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) July 26, 2025
If we filter the sets of team drills by first-team offense (which I’m defining by the offensive line groupings, which have been fairly consistent), this is the QB breakdown:
Flacco (8)
Pickett (7)
Gabriel (4) https://t.co/k4miEiXWRH— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) July 26, 2025
When it comes to how all four have looked, it’s been a mixed bag. With Kenny Pickett being sidelined due to a hamstring injury, it has opened the door for a certain quarterback to take advantage of it.
He’s been getting reps with the second-team offense for 3 straight practices now. I know everyone wants to know when/if he’ll get time with the starters and it’s been asked. When they want to, they will. https://t.co/9rMXhYx0wA
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) July 28, 2025
Football depth charts are fluid throughout training camp, and things change every day. Once practice is over, coaches update their depth charts and their plans based on what they see.
If you are working with the 3’s one day, the following day you could work with the 2’s. Reps are earned, they aren’t given. Only the Browns coaching staff will determine if Sanders has earned the right to work with the 1’s. Not the outside noise.
Considering how Sanders has gotten extended looks with the 2’s and will likely get more reps with the Pickett injury, it feels inevitable when Sanders gets that opportunity.
If he does, he has to make the most of it. It doesn’t hurt to be patient.