Although Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns lost to the Baltimore Ravens 23-16 this past Sunday, Browns fans had plenty to cheer about. They’d long been waiting for their preseason third-string quarterback to get real playing time, and following starting signal-caller Dillon Gabriel’s third-quarter concussion, Sanders’ number was called.
How Did Browns Fans React to Shedeur Sanders’ Entrance?
A clip from ESPN Cleveland has surfaced, showing the fans’ reaction to his entrance.
Once Sanders jogged onto the field, the stadium erupted. As seen in the video, the cheers were so loud that the Browns’ offensive lineman attempted to quiet the crowd in an attempt to get on the same page before the play was called.
Sanders famously slipped to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft after first-round consideration for months. He ended up being the second quarterback selected by the Browns, behind Gabriel in the third round.
The crowd when Shedeur made his debut was ELECTRIC 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Mh9pgfzK6I
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) November 18, 2025
As it turned out, Sanders got limited playing time in the preseason, completing 17 passes on 29 attempts for 152 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers. While he had a strong performance against the Carolina Panthers, signs of weakness showed while facing the Los Angeles Rams. Sunday’s game was the first time he’d seen on-field action since the Rams game.
With Gabriel’s concussion still lingering, head coach Kevin Stefanski named Sanders the starter ahead of their matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. He’ll look to rebound from his initial performance filling in for Gabriel, where he completed four of 12 passes for 47 yards. Notably, he threw an interception, took two sacks, and finished with a passer rating of 13.5.
Now, with a whole week of preparation, Sanders will look to rebound and secure the Browns’ third victory of a difficult season. With Joe Flacco traded and Gabriel at the helm, Cleveland’s offense has left much to be desired.
According to PFSN’s Offensive Impact ratings, the Browns have a grade of 52.8, ranking last and below teams such as the Tennessee Titans, the Raiders, and the New York Jets.
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With Gabriel’s return date unknown, Sanders has a unique opportunity to prove his value to the fans, coaches, and front office. The Browns have famously been looking for a franchise quarterback for decades, having started 41 players at the position since 1999.
With games coming up against the Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, and Titans, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to show why the franchise made the right decision in taking a chance on him.
