The Cleveland Browns are 1-4, and questions are mounting at quarterback. The Browns traded Joe Flacco to Cincinnati, leaving rookie Dillon Gabriel as the starter and Shedeur Sanders one step closer to NFL action. Head coach Kevin Stefanski addressed Sanders’ status this week.
What Did Kevin Stefanski Say About Shedeur Sanders?
According to an X post from 92.3 The Fan, Stefanski talked about Sanders and the backup quarterback spot in his press conference. He didn’t commit to anything right away.
“So I’ll let the week play out, make a decision later on that.”
Stefanski’s caution comes down to how he handles young quarterbacks and their growth in the system.
“Still working through all roster type of things. I always have to be mindful of our players and our players development and I wanna make sure that I’m always doing what’s best for our players and of course our team.”
#Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski on the trade of Joe Flacco taking them ‘by surprise’, ‘still working through’ the QB2 decision with Shedeur Sanders, Bailey Zappe and how they handled the QB competition before the season pic.twitter.com/HS6fc9MHWA
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) October 8, 2025
The same thinking went into last week’s move to start Gabriel instead of Flacco. Stefanski takes his time with rookie quarterbacks.
“But with young players, I’m always thinking about last week, making the change to Dillon, you have to think long and hard about that. Because these are young players that you’re so invested in their development.”
Sanders hasn’t seen the field yet this year. Right now, he’s the only other quarterback on the roster besides Gabriel, but the Browns could add someone else.
Joe Flacco Trade Caught the Browns by Surprise
Cleveland sent Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round pick to Cincinnati in exchange for a 2026 fifth-rounder on Oct. 7. Stefanski said the deal came out of nowhere.
“First I’d tell you is that Joe trade took us by surprise. That was not something that we saw coming. They called us and it happened very fast and happened not too long ago.”
The sudden exit caps a strange quarterback situation for Cleveland. Flacco got plenty of training camp work alongside Kenny Pickett, who the Browns acquired in the offseason. Neither made it to mid-October on the roster.
When reporters questioned whether all those camp reps were wasted, Stefanski defended the process.
“Well, I mean, there’s a lot of unknowns in football and in sports. You can’t always predict injuries, you can’t predict trades, those type of things. So it’s just, that’s sports.”
How Have the Browns Performed So Far?
The 1-4 record reflects Cleveland’s challenging season. While the defense has performed well, earning a B- grade from PFSN’s Defense Impact metric and ranking sixth in the league, the offense presents a stark contrast.
PFSN’s Offense Impact rating gives the Browns an F grade, ranking them 30th overall. Cleveland is averaging 14.6 points per game, and turnovers are making things worse. Eight giveaways in the first four weeks led to Flacco’s benching.
Gabriel took over for the London game against Minnesota but couldn’t flip the script. The Browns lost 21-17 in a defensive battle. Third-down struggles have been a persistent issue, with Cleveland converting at a significantly lower rate than its opponents.
Sanders still hasn’t seen the field. The entire quarterback room is now made up of rookies, though the team could bring in a veteran at any point. The Browns attempted to address their issues up front by trading for tackle Cam Robinson and reacquiring Jack Conklin from injury. So far, it hasn’t made a difference.
The next three games (at Pittsburgh, home against Miami, and at New England) will show whether Gabriel is the answer or if Sanders finally gets his shot.