Shedeur Sanders hasn’t exactly had a quiet start to his NFL career. First came the draft buzz, then the slide into the fifth round, and soon after, his Cleveland Browns preseason debut that grabbed attention for all the right reasons.
Now, many fans want to know if he made his NFL debut in Week 1. Here’s everything you need to know about whether Deion Sanders’ son suited up.
Did Shedeur Sanders Make His NFL Debut in Week 1?
No, Sanders did not suit up for the Browns in Week 1. Joe Flacco won the starting quarterback job in Cleveland, and Dillon Gabriel was named the QB2 after the team traded Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders for a fifth-round pick.
Sanders’ momentum hit a snag in mid-August when he tweaked his oblique during joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles. That kept him out of Cleveland’s second preseason game, a tough blow considering how sharp he looked the week before against the Carolina Panthers, when he threw for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
Instead of climbing up the depth chart, Sanders has been forced to wait his turn.
Not only did Sanders not play in Week 1, he wasn’t even active. Instead, he was designated as the emergency quarterback, which means the only way he would’ve seen the field is if both Flacco and Gabriel went down.
How Did Joe Flacco Perform vs. the Bengals?
Flacco had an up-and-down performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, completing 31 of 45 passes for 290 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The Browns ultimately lost the game, 17-16.
Cleveland spent months sorting through a crowded quarterback room. Four passers — Flacco, Gabriel, Sanders, and Pickett — were in the mix. By the end of August, the decision was official: Flacco had won the job.
Flacco has history with the Browns and Stefanski, so it wasn’t a huge surprise. They feel that the 40-year-old gives them the best chance to win. However, after Flacco’s struggles, some fans were inevitably calling for the Browns to insert Sanders.
If the Browns continue to lose games and this becomes a developmental year, it’s possible Cleveland will want to get a look at both of their rookie QBs to evaluate them. Gabriel would likely get the first chance to show what he could do, but Sanders may get an opportunity eventually, too.
For a fifth-round pick, Sanders has a ton of eyeballs on him. He entered the league after throwing for 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns in his final year at Colorado, where he also landed Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors and finished eighth in Heisman voting.
The Browns are letting him settle in, focus on staying healthy, and develop at his own pace. Sanders has plenty of upside and could eventually get a chance to prove that he is Cleveland’s long-term solution under center. For now, he must wait his turn and focus on his development.
