Shedeur Sanders’ QB1 NFL preseason debut was everything he dreamed of and trained for it to be. And yet, there is a chance that he might not start another game this season.
Sanders came last in the Cleveland Browns’ QB pecking order in the offseason. Were it not for Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett’s hamstring injury, Sanders would still be practicing reps with the backup squad.
However, 138 passing yards, two touchdowns, 14 of 23 completed passes, and a thumping 30-10 victory later, Sanders established himself as a solid contender for the Week 1 starting spot.
Kevin Stefanski Still Hesitant on Naming Shedeur Sanders QB1
Unfortunately for Sanders, it was not enough to convince Stefanski. The Browns HC plans on feeling out the preseason situation, probably with Gabriel and Pickett starting a few games if their recovery allows, before making the official announcement for the Week 1 starting QB.
“I think you take everything into account, but we’ll see how we get through this week and then make a decision – make a decision on when to make a decision,” Stefanski said.
In other words, Stefanski will be pulling a textbook cliffhanger until the very end. He plans on doing that until he is sure about who he trusts at the QB1 position.
Challenge Accepted
Stefanski will most likely be testing the waters with Gabriel as well before making the much-awaited decision.
Stefanski’s hesitance is a green flag for both Gabriel and Pickett to have a shot at giving a performance that overshadows Sanders’. Gabriel is already clear for some strictly “managed” 11-on-11 drills.
This also gives him the green signal to make his debut against the Eagles on the Browns’ Saturday road exhibition. The million-dollar question now would be whether Gabriel makes QB1 against the Eagles. He gave Sanders his chance, so giving Gabriel one should hardly come as a surprise.
Injury Concerns
It seems that the stars have almost aligned for Gabriel’s preseason debut, as Sanders suffered an oblique injury during Wednesday’s practice session while throwing drills. The result was being ruled out of practice for a few sessions. This also seriously limits Sanders’ chances of playing vs. the Eagles in their second preseason game.
Pickett, on the other hand, is not cleared for 11-on-11s and is kept limited to 7-on-7s, making his availability for Saturday’s showdown questionable. Pickett might not be in the preseason QB1 talks, unlike the Week 1 starter talks.
Sanders’ injury only strengthens Gabriel’s chances of starting against Philadelphia.
That said, the rookie from Oregon is yet to get completely cleared of his injury. This might result in him having limited plays and a slim chance of freshly added QB Tyler Huntley starting for the Browns instead.
Still Undecided
“I’m not there on the game itself. By Wednesday, Thursday, I’ll have a better feel for the game and how we’re gonna handle that, and I’ll update you guys. But not there yet,” the Browns HC commented when asked about his decision of QB1 for their second preseason game.
Sanders’ injury adds another complex layer for Stefanski to seriously ponder upon. The preseason QB1 competition seems more like a competition between the rookies to get a spot in Week 1 talks with Joe Flacco and Pickett.
Interestingly, both rookies will do that while nursing injuries. How Gabriel performs under center will decide what’s next to come in the Browns’ QB room.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
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