Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders entered Cleveland’s final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, hoping to secure the backup spot behind Joe Flacco.
Instead, Sanders struggled, and many believe fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel outperformed him. However, one Cleveland analyst argues Sanders isn’t to blame for his rough outing against Los Angeles.
Browns Analyst Defends Shedeur Sanders After Tough Preseason Outing
Sanders’ final preseason performance left much to be desired. The rookie completed three of six passes for 14 yards and was sacked five times for a total loss of 41 yards.
Many NFL fans argued that the sacks were on Sanders for holding the ball too long. However, ESPN Cleveland’s Tom Rizzo noted that Sanders was operating behind an offensive line where four of the five players were later cut, emphasizing that much of the poor showing wasn’t his fault.
“4 of the 5 guys got waived yesterday, HELLO! He was running for his life,” – @TheRealTRizzo on the situation Shedeur was in on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/D8wOsNEG83
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) August 25, 2025
“He was running for his life,” Rizzo said. “People are pigeonholing him, ‘Well, that’s what he did in college.’ When you are new to the league, you go back to what you did when you’re under duress. The kid was running for his life. Don’t judge Shedeur for what you saw the other day.”
Rizzo is absolutely right that Sanders was working behind a weak offensive line, but the rookie also deserves blame for several of the sacks. In college, Sanders had a habit of drifting backward in the pocket. At that level, it often worked, as he could extend plays with his legs.
However, drifting too far back in the NFL gives pass rushers a clear advantage. Even with a clean pocket, it puts extra stress on his tackles since they can’t set that deep, leaving Sanders exposed. Unlike at Colorado, he can’t buy the same time with his legs against NFL-level defenders.
Shedeur Sanders takes another sack and held the ball for 6.13 seconds on this one.
To put this time to throw into context — in 2024 NFL QBs time to throw was between 2.42 and 3.13 seconds (NEXT GEN STATS). pic.twitter.com/Dfs3R6Ah4c
— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) August 23, 2025
Rizzo’s point that Sanders is reverting to habits from college may be true, but that’s hardly a positive. It highlights a lack of development from both the young quarterback and the Browns’ coaching staff this camp.
The former Colorado star still has upside. He’s an accurate passer and a smart player who can read defenses at a high level. However, his pocket mobility and awareness, which were major concerns coming out of college, remain issues at the NFL level.
Sanders must improve at stepping up into clean pockets, which his offensive line, despite its flaws, gave him opportunities to do on Saturday. Until he makes that adjustment, he will not be a viable starting option for Cleveland.
Cleveland has already named veteran Joe Flacco as the starter, so for now, Sanders will practice and learn from the Super Bowl champion quarterback and prepare for the regular-season snaps he’s likely to get at some point. The Browns kick off the 2025 season on Sunday, September 7, against the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals.
