CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Wednesday brought confirmation from Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski that fifth-round rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will start Friday night’s preseason opener at Carolina.
It also brought a reminder that Sanders’ start will come as a result of circumstances, not a promotion. Despite a number of slight detours, the Browns are going about the rest of their quarterback competition with Sanders remaining fourth in line, and no real change in order.
The Browns and Panthers held a long-planned joint practice session Wednesday morning, and Sanders got no extra work. With Kenny Pickett getting his most extended time in almost two weeks and third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel also participating only in 7-on-7 drills, Sanders had one of his lightest days since early in camp. Sanders took two sets of four snaps in full-team drills and only got three throws over the practice’s two 7-on-7 periods.
Through 11 practices, Sanders remains the only one of the four Cleveland quarterbacks who’s yet to take any reps with the No. 1 offense. The Browns added a fifth active-roster quarterback, Tyler Huntley, on Tuesday because Pickett and Gabriel will be inactive for Friday’s game. A hamstring injury suffered by Pickett on July 26 has given Joe Flacco more than 80 percent of the snaps with the No. 1 offense over the last two weeks. Stefanski said Gabriel experienced some hamstring tightness following practice on Saturday.
On the second time through both the 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 portions on Wednesday, Huntley took snaps that Sanders had taken the first time through. So, even ahead of a preseason game in which Sanders will start against Carolina’s No. 1 defense, there were no additional reps for the Browns’ fifth-round pick. Presumably, the team’s Thursday walk-through will be centered around Sanders and a series of plays Stefanski will call Friday night.
“My expectations for Shedeur are no different than (they are) for the rest of the guys, honestly,” Stefanski said. “We expect them to go operate the offense. When you get in these preseason games, you try to keep it very simple so that guys can play fast. They’re all concepts that our players know and can kind of not think too much and just play ball.”
There was no realistic expectation that Sanders would play with the No. 1 offense here on Wednesday. Stefanski has always viewed joint practices as the most important evaluation points of training camp, and Flacco remains the leader to win the job to start the regular season. The first offense up with Sanders Friday night will not be the true No. 1 unit, but it is mostly the group with which Sanders took his eight 11-on-11 reps in the joint session.
Stefanski said that the Browns’ starters, “by and large,” will not play Friday. Some players are competing for roles, and some who have special teams duties will play, but the bulk of the reps will go to Cleveland’s backups and young players. Stefanski had planned to play his starters in this practice but not in the first preseason game, and he also planned to carry the quarterback competition through this week and next week’s joint practices in Philadelphia.
That was evident more than 30 minutes before any competitive part began on Wednesday. Pickett, who hasn’t been a full participant in any of the last seven sessions, was with the No. 1 offense in a pre-practice walk-through. Pickett should be back to full speed and participation by next week’s joint practices with the Eagles. Realistically, it’s always been Flacco versus Pickett this summer for the September starting job, with the rookies trying to earn roster spots and show long-term upside.
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Pickett also took the first 7-on-7 reps for the Browns on Wednesday. He ended up making eight throws in 7-on-7 sessions. Gabriel made the most with nine. Flacco made the play of the day in 11-on-11 work when he hit Jerry Jeudy on a deep crossing route for a gain of at least 30. It might have been a 60-yard touchdown in a truly live setting.
Sanders didn’t have a completion of more than 5 yards against the Panthers’ defense. He hit undrafted rookie Luke Floriea twice in 7-on-7s, had an on-target throw dropped by tight end Brenden Bates in his first team session and later had a slant route for Kaden Davis broken up.
Sanders was in kindergarten when Flacco made his NFL debut in 2008. Flacco has consistently said he’s enjoyed the conversation in the Browns’ quarterback room and believes Sanders will have the full support of his position mates Friday night.
“I think we’ll all be sitting there watching and be excited for football to be going real time,” Flacco said. “And I think Shedeur is probably excited about that, too. In your first time to go (play) in the NFL, I remember mine. I didn’t get to play until the last two minutes of the game. But it’s something that he’ll remember forever.
“You know, most of us have dreamt about this moment since we were 5, 6, 7, 8 years old. So, for him to get a chance to go out there and actually take the field, even though it’s preseason, we’re all going to be on the sideline enjoying it.”
Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett said he’s developed a relationship with Sanders and added that, although they don’t always talk football, Sanders has taken opportunities to ask Garrett questions about how he frustrates quarterbacks and views offensive tendencies.
“Shedeur is funny, he’s optimistic, lighthearted, but he works hard,” Garrett said. “He takes it seriously, his craft. He’s watching what the others are doing and doing it his own way, in which only he can. So, I’m looking forward to see him in these preseason games and how he manages the offense. But I think he looks good. I think they all look good right now.”
Sanders has generally taken the fewest snaps of the available quarterbacks in each practice. He didn’t throw in competitive drills on Saturday because of arm soreness, but he returned Monday and said he’s fine. Stefanski said Sanders’ arm soreness is not a concern and that the Browns expect the rookie to handle his most extended action of the summer well on Friday night.
“Shedeur has gotten reps with different centers and has gotten reps with different (receivers) during practice,” Stefanski said. “So I feel real confident that the guys will have a good feel for who’s playing next to them. There may be some (combinations) that are a little bit different, but I think the guys have worked very hard to just be on the same page.
“Shedeur is excited. He knew he was going to play a good bit in these preseason games, so the competitor in him is very excited.”
(Photo courtesy: Cleveland Browns)
