Shedeur Sanders received some concerning news on Wednesday. Following his injury during Cleveland Browns practice, the quarterback was hit with a major update on his competition with Dillon Gabriel.
Recent months have been a roller coaster for Shedeur Sanders. After being snubbed in the 2025 NFL Draft, the former Buffaloes standout entered the league as a fifth-round pick, determined to prove teams wrong for passing on him.
In the Browns’ preseason opener, Sanders delivered a solid performance. Unfortunately, he has now received tough news about the team’s QB competition that could put his future in jeopardy.
Browns give key update on QB competition after Shedeur Sanders’ injury
After Sanders made his official NFL debut with the Browns, questions about the competition began to swirl. His strong showing against the Panthers made the coaching staff consider whether he should be the backup behind Joe Flacco in the 2025 season.
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Shedeur Sanders suffers injury at Browns’ training camp
Despite that performance, the Browns listed Sanders as QB4 on their depth chart, behind Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel. Now, things have become even more complicated for him.
On Wednesday, head coach Kevin Stefanski said that, if healthy, Dillon Gabriel would start against the Eagles in Week 2 of the preseason. He also revealed that Sanders and Pickett would get some reps in that game.
However, with Sanders sidelined by his injury, Gabriel could have a clear path to proving he is a better option—especially if Sanders is unable to play.
Shedeur Sanders, rookie quarterback for the Cleveland Browns
It remains uncertain whether Sanders will be healthy enough for Saturday’s matchup. Even if he recovers in time, the Browns may choose not to risk him and instead give all the playing time to Gabriel, as Pickett is dealing with a hamstring injury still.
Can the Browns keep four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster?
Even though Sanders is still listed as the team’s fourth quarterback, his situation isn’t necessarily hopeless. He still has a realistic chance to make the 53-man roster—mainly due to financial factors.
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Shedeur Sanders’ biggest critic sends clear message to the QB after heated exchange in Browns debut
Flacco, Pickett, Gabriel, and Sanders are all on low-cost contracts. The Browns could decide to keep all four quarterbacks to ensure depth at the position throughout the upcoming season.
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