- Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski named Sanders QB2, backing up starter Dillon Gabriel.
- Sanders’ step up comes on the heels of Joe Flacco’s trade to the Cincinnati Bengals.
- There was some speculation Bailey Zappe, not Sanders, would be named the backup for this weekend. That turned out not to be the case.
It truly might be only a matter of time for Shedeur Sanders.
On Friday, Oct. 10, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski named Sanders QB2, backing up starter Dillon Gabriel as the Browns get set to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6.
Sanders’ step up comes on the heels of Joe Flacco’s trade to the Cincinnati Bengals. Flacco, who was named starter this season, took snaps for four games before being benched in favor of Gabriel, the team’s 2025 third-round pick.
‘I’m always thinking about our players and what’s best for our players,’ Stefanski said Friday. ‘I want to make sure when it comes to young football players, particularly at the quarterback position, you are intentional about your decision making. And that’s really all it is.’
There was some speculation that Bailey Zappe, not Sanders, would be named the backup for this weekend. That turned out not to be the case with the Sanders promotion.
The Browns QB room has been in a state of flux since the preseason. Sanders was originally QB4 behind Flacco, Gabriel and Kenny Pickett. Pickett was traded to the Raiders ahead of the regular season, easing the path for Sanders’ ascent.
The Browns are searching for their second win of the season and travel to Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh in Week 6 for the tilt.
Browns QB depth chart
Here’s how the passers in Cleveland’s QB room line up:
- Dillon Gabriel
- Shedeur Sanders
- Bailey Zappe (practice squad)
- Deshaun Watson (injured)
Sanders now rests comfortably in the QB2 spot behind third-round pick Dillon Gabriel.
The Browns also might see the return of Deshaun Watson this season, who was seen working out at the Browns practice facility earlier this week.