What was shaping up to be another valuable learning moment for Cleveland’s rookie quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, took a sudden and unsettling turn. In the Bills game, something clearly went wrong in the second quarter for the Browns against the Bills. And by the time the dust settled, concern had replaced momentum on the Cleveland sideline.
What Happened to Browns’ Starting QB?
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders suffered a pinky finger injury on his throwing hand during Week 16, forcing him to leave the game for medical evaluation.
Cleveland’s rookie quarterback was forced out earlier than expected after going down with an apparent hand issue late in the first half. Shedeur Sanders was escorted off the field by team doctor James Voos following what appeared to be a pinky injury on his throwing hand, occurring near the 6:30 mark of the second quarter.
BRUTAL: #Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders PINKY was BLEEDING and was taken off the field.
This does not look good at all.
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) December 21, 2025
Up to that point, Sanders had delivered a sharp performance, completing 10 of 13 passes for 109 yards. He accounted for one touchdown but also threw an interception before the injury halted his night.
Reports confirmed the injury involved a laceration with visible bleeding, prompting the Browns’ medical staff to take him to the locker room for treatment. According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, Sanders “grabbed his helmet to start throwing” after returning from the locker room, and appeared ready to return to the game after a “throwing hand pinky injury.”
The Browns turned to backup Dillon Gabriel during his absence, and Sanders’ status moving forward will depend on further medical evaluation and pain tolerance. Sanders returned to the game shortly after the injury.
Bills’ James Cook Mocked Shedeur Sanders After Touchdown
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook drew attention late in the second quarter after scoring a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns. With 2:22 left on the clock and Buffalo leading 13–10, Cook celebrated by flexing his wrist toward the crowd, a gesture widely recognized as Shedeur Sanders’ “wrist flex.”
James Cook reaches for SIX.
BUFvsCLE on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/SfqgyQiwKl
— NFL (@NFL) December 21, 2025
The moment stood out, given that Sanders had been forced out of the game earlier due to a finger injury on his throwing hand. Cook’s celebration quickly circulated on social media, with fans interpreting it as a direct mockery tied to the Browns’ rookie quarterback’s exit.
If you remember, Sanders answered a Tennessee Titans defensive tackle, Jeffery Simmons, after a sack when he had mocked the Browns QB with wrist flex. Let’s see if Sanders does the same to the Bills’ veteran RB.
