Shedeur Sanders reveled in his first day as Browns starting QB. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
It was a very good day for Shedeur Sanders.
Informed on Tuesday by coaches that he would make his first NFL start Sunday in Las Vegas with Dillon Gabriel stuck in concussion protocol, Sanders began his first day as Browns starting quarterback reveling in the limelight.
The media-savvy Sanders is so good at that.
A few more television cameras than normal squeezed into the Browns locker room to record Sanders’ first press conference as the starting QB and his comments about his house being burglarized of $200,000 in property on Sunday while he made his first appearance of the season in relief of the injured Gabriel.
Sanders filled their lenses with bright smiles and profound sound bytes.
“I’m in a mental space now to where, it’s not too much that could faze me,” Sanders said of the break-in by three masked robbers. “And none of my jewelry got took anyway.”
On Sunday in Las Vegas, Sanders will become the 42nd quarterback to start a game for the Browns in their expansion era and the 13th in six seasons under coach Kevin Stefanski.
“That’s crazy,” Sanders said.
He represents the second attempt by the Browns to change quarterbacks and light a spark to an offense that ranks 29th in points, 31st in total yards, and 31st in passing yards.
Gabriel relieved Joe Flacco after a 1-3 beginning to the season and went 1-5. At 2-8 overall, the Browns have finally turned to Sanders, who has patiently waited for his inevitable opportunity.
Sanders never took a snap with the first-team offense in training camp or in the regular season until he relieved the concussed Gabriel to open the second half against the Ravens on Sunday.
Sanders went 4 of 16 for 47 yards, with one interception and two sacks in his NFL debut. He didn’t tack on a point in six possessions as the Browns lost, 23-16. But Sanders inspired some hope at the end with two passes in the end zone in a frantic attempt to pull out the game.
“Obviously, he battled to the end. We were right there on that final drive,” said coach Kevin Stefanski.
For the first time since he joined the Browns, Sanders will get all the practice reps and a game plan tailored to his preferences.
“I’m truly excited for that, knowing that I have a piece in the offense and a say-so and how things fit my eye and place the players exactly where they need to be, “ Sanders said. “Seeing how they come in and out of routes, seeing the structure of the O-lineman, seeing a set, just having a feeling.
“Like I’m more of a feel-type of person. So that’s how I learn. That’s how I do everything. I’m not a ‘I’m just watching, it’s just going to happen.’ No, like, I got to be out there, feel it. I got to move around. It’s like so many details that it takes for me to feel my best and play my best and I’m doing everything in my power and the team’s doing everything to help me get prepared.”
Unlike some experts who analyzed Sanders’ relief appearance against the Ravens, Sanders came away encouraged.
“I think I handled the blitz pretty good,” Sanders said. “I think it’s some certain scenarios I could have been tighter, my footwork and everything. But when it comes from film studying, from everything, there’s a lot of things from that side I’ve done well, and minus the couple things going into the game, of course, that I could change. But all that’s about feel. All that’s about a different feel and about getting the reps and doing everything like that.
“So, I’m excited and going to the game, as the time went on, you’ve seen the comfort, you’ve seen all that, you’ve seen the juice behind it. So, I know I could get to that place. So that moment was a moment of hope, and I hope we all have.”
With seven games to go, the Browns are evaluating whether they need to use their No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft on a quarterback. Currently, the Browns are third in the 2026 draft order. Sanders has the chance to change that narrative and stake his claim as the Browns’ QB of the future.
“I know our fans have a lot of expectations and hope, and I would be doing a disservice to myself and disservice to the organization if I didn’t feel like I am the guy,” Sanders said. “I did everything I need to. I’m doing everything I need to prepare to be the best version of myself as possible.
“With the circumstances, everything got me sped up, and that’s great – you know, I like pressure in life. I’m just excited for everything. So, I feel like I’m the guy. I know I’m the guy, but you just have to be able to see. The game got to speak.”
Brownie bits
DNPs at practice were Gabriel (concussion), tight end David Njoku (knee) and defensive end Alex Wright (quad) …
The Browns signed two cornerbacks to their 53 roster. They signed De’Angelo Ross off Houston’s practice squad and Sam Webb off Tennessee’s practice squad.
Cornerback Denzel Ward on the QB change to Sanders: “I’m looking forward to seeing how he does with a week of preparation and coming out here and performing. We’re rallying being whoever. We’re looking for anybody to give us a spark and get it going.”