The Cleveland Browns have been the face of QB uncertainty for a long time, and since the departure of former first-rounder Baker Mayfield, the search for a franchise signal-caller has been extensive.
After becoming the starter, Shedeur Sanders has had some great games and even led Cleveland to a rare win. The rookie QB has shown strong potential since becoming the starting quarterback, and he may not relinquish that position for the rest of the season.
Cleveland Browns HC Kevin Stefanski Makes Decision on His Rookie QB’s Immediate Future
In week 14, when the Browns faced off against the Cam Ward-led Tennessee Titans, the focus was on the QB battle.
Even though the Browns lost this game, Sanders’ performance was excellent, finishing with 4 total touchdowns and 364 passing yards.
This type of play is exactly what the Browns wanted to see from at least one of their rookies, and today, Cleveland’s HC Kevin Stefanksi has named Sanders the starter for the rest of the season.
Shedeur Sanders will be the Browns’ starting QB for the remainder of the season, Kevin Stefanski announces.
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) December 8, 2025
Having some solidification at the QB position for the Browns was needed, and even though Sanders’ long-term future as the starter is unknown, it is excellent that Cleveland will give him the job until the end of the season.
How the Browns Got to This Point
To start the season, veteran Joe Flacco was named the starter, but in early October, the Browns traded him to the Cincinnati Bengals. After this move, rookie Dillon Gabriel was named the starter, but his play on the field was nowhere near enough for the Browns to feel good about his future.
Against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11, Gabriel went down with an injury and was ruled out for the game. This was where Sanders made his debut. The performance wasn’t good, but given the lack of practice with the starters and zero regular-season experience, it made sense.
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After gaining more experience and practice, Sanders led the Browns to a victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, was the best-performing rookie QB in week 13 according to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, and had his excellent performance against the Titans the following week.
What This QB Announcement Means for the Future
As mentioned above, Sanders’ long-term future with the team is still under consideration, but Stefanski naming him a starter for the rest of the season means something.
There is now a level of trust the HC has in Sanders, and if he can capitalize on this momentum, the Browns could avoid drafting a QB in 2026.
Although that will also depend on whether a coaching change occurs in Cleveland, Sanders can still show why the potential next regime should keep him as QB next year.
