Shedeur Sanders Gets Reality Check: Cleveland Browns Rookie QB Struggles Against Los Angeles Rams
The preseason honeymoon is officially over for Shedeur Sanders. After lighting up the scoreboard in his Cleveland Browns debut, the rookie quarterback got a harsh lesson in NFL reality during Saturday’s 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Sometimes football has a funny way of humbling even the most confident players, and he learned that lesson the hard way in what can only be described as a rough night at the office.
The Night Everything Went Wrong
Sanders entered Saturday’s game riding high from his impressive preseason opener against Carolina, where he completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. The Colorado product looked poised, confident, and ready to challenge for a roster spot. Fast forward to Saturday night, and it was like watching a completely different quarterback.
Taking over in the second half, he managed just three completions on six attempts for a measly 14 yards. But the passing numbers only tell half the story. The real nightmare was what happened when the Rams brought pressure. He was sacked five times, losing a combined 41 yards and nearly fumbling in the process. It was the kind of performance that makes coaches reach for the antacid. “You just want to make a spark,” Sanders said after the game. “You just want to make something happen, and it’s good and it’s bad.”
When Holding the Ball Becomes a Problem
The most concerning aspect of Sanders’ performance wasn’t necessarily the sacks themselves. It was how they happened. Instead of throwing the ball away or taking what the defense gave him, Sanders repeatedly held onto the ball, scrambling backward and turning manageable situations into drive-killers.
One particular sequence in the fourth quarter perfectly encapsulated his struggles. Facing pressure, Sanders kept backpedaling instead of simply tossing the ball out of bounds, eventually taking a 24-yard loss that effectively ended the drive. It was the kind of play that makes coaching staffs everywhere collectively groan.
The irony is thick here. At Colorado, Sanders was known for his ability to extend plays with his mobility. But what works against college defenses doesn’t always translate to the NFL, where pass rushers are faster, stronger, and more relentless. Saturday night proved that lesson painfully.
The Coaching Staff’s Confidence Vote
Perhaps the most telling moment came late in the fourth quarter when the team needed a game-winning drive. With two minutes left on the clock and trailing by three points, Head Coach Kevin Stefanski had a choice to make. He could stick with Sanders, the rookie who desperately needed positive momentum, or go with veteran Tyler Huntley, the journeyman quarterback who’d barely seen action all preseason.
Stefanski chose Huntley, and it wasn’t particularly close. The veteran immediately looked more comfortable, efficiently moving Cleveland downfield for the game-winning field goal. The message was clear: when the chips are down, experience matters.
“It wasn’t my decision,” Sanders said about being benched for the final drive. “Of course, that’s every quarterback’s dream, and that’s what every quarterback thrives for – those moments.” The disappointment in his voice was palpable.
Dillon Gabriel Steps Up
While Sanders was struggling to find his footing, fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel was quietly making his case for a higher spot on the depth chart. The third-round pick from Oregon completed 11-of-17 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown, looking far more comfortable operating within the Browns’ offensive system.
Gabriel’s approach was the polar opposite of Sanders’ freelancing style. Where Sanders held the ball and looked for big plays, Gabriel took what the defense gave him and moved the chains. It might not have been as exciting, but it was undeniably more effective.
The contrast between the two rookie quarterbacks couldn’t have been starker. Gabriel looked like he understood his role within the offense, while Sanders appeared to be trying to recreate his Colorado magic against a significantly more talented level of competition.
What This Means For Sanders’ Future
Despite the rough outing, Sanders remains confident about his chances of making the 53-man roster. When asked directly if he expects to make the team, his response was immediate: “Obviously.”
That confidence might seem misplaced given his performance, but the team has invested significant time and resources in their quarterback room. General Manager Andrew Berry has indicated the team is comfortable carrying four quarterbacks, which should provide Sanders with a safety net.
However, Saturday’s performance likely cemented his role as the fourth quarterback on the depth chart, at least for now. Joe Flacco is the established starter, Kenny Pickett brings veteran experience as the backup, and Gabriel has shown he can operate efficiently within the system. That leaves Sanders as the developmental project.
The Long View
It’s important to remember that Sanders is still just 22 years old and has played exactly two NFL preseason games. Writing him off based on one rough performance would be premature, especially considering the flashes he showed in his debut.
The challenge for him will be learning to balance his natural playmaking ability with the discipline required to succeed at the NFL level. Saturday’s game was a harsh reminder that what made him special in college, extending plays and creating magic out of chaos, needs to be refined for professional football.
The good news is that the Browns appear committed to his development. Having four quarterbacks on the roster gives them the luxury of being patient with Sanders while he adapts to the speed and complexity of the NFL game.
Cleveland’s Quarterback Depth Chart Takes Shape
Based on preseason performances and coaching decisions, the Browns’ quarterback hierarchy is becoming clearer:
- Joe Flacco – The veteran starter who brings stability and experience
- Kenny Pickett – The backup with starting NFL experience
- Dillon Gabriel – The rookie who’s shown he can execute the offense efficiently
- Shedeur Sanders – The developmental prospect with the highest ceiling but the steepest learning curve
Huntley, despite his clutch performance Saturday, likely finds himself on the outside looking in when roster cuts are finalized Tuesday.
The Reality Of NFL Development
Sanders’ struggles serve as a reminder that the transition from college to professional football is rarely smooth. Even the most talented prospects need time to adjust to the speed, complexity, and physicality of the NFL game. The Browns clearly see something special in Sanders, but Saturday’s performance was a valuable lesson that talent alone isn’t enough. Sanders will need to show he can adapt his game to succeed at the next level.
For now, he finds himself in a familiar position for many rookie quarterbacks: talented but raw, confident but humbled, and facing a steep learning curve. The question isn’t whether he’ll make the roster. The real question is how quickly he can learn from nights like Saturday and turn his considerable talent into NFL-ready skills.
Time will tell if he can bounce back from this setback and fulfill the potential that made him such an intriguing prospect. But if nothing else, Saturday’s game against the Rams was a reminder that in the NFL, even the most confident rookies occasionally need a reality check.
