The Cleveland Browns may finally get rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders back on the practice field this week, but his Week 10 status remains unsettled. With multiple injuries and no third quarterback on the active roster, the Browns are entering a critical decision window that will shape Sunday’s depth chart.
Whether Sanders can return as the No. 2 quarterback is still dependent on how his injured back responds over the next several days.
Will Shedeur Sanders Be Healthy Enough to Resume Backup Duties?
In an update first reported by 92.3 The Fan, Kevin Stefanski said Sanders “will return to practice in limited capacity today, need to see how his back responds this week before determining if he’ll be QB2 on Sunday.” The rookie has been sidelined since late October and has yet to take a regular season snap for the Browns.
#Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski says QB Shedeur Sanders will return to practice in limited capacity today, need to see how his back responds this week before determining if he’ll be QB2 on Sunday
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) November 5, 2025
Stefanski reiterated the uncertainty when speaking with reporters, stating, “We need to see how he responds. Obviously, he’s pushing very hard in rehab, but we need to see how he does over the next couple of days.”
#Browns Kevin Stefanski on Shedeur Sanders’ status: pic.twitter.com/Fq2d29gWWo
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) November 5, 2025
Sanders entered the year as the Browns’ backup behind rookie starter Dillon Gabriel. However, his back issue forced the Browns to elevate Bailey Zappe as the No. 2 quarterback during their October 26 loss to the New England Patriots.
If Sanders is unable to suit up against the New York Jets, Zappe would likely be elevated from the practice squad again. With Sanders inactive and Joe Flacco traded to the Cincinnati Bengals last month, the Browns currently have no third quarterback on the 53-man roster.
The situation also brings added attention to Gabriel’s performance. Per PFSN’s QB Impact metric, Gabriel owns a QB Impact Score of 52.3, ranked 37th this season and 895th all-time since 2000. He has started four games, played in six, and completed 85 of 142 passes for a 59.9 percent rate, earning an overall “F” grade from the metric.
Those numbers highlight why the Browns need Sanders available, not to replace Gabriel, but to provide stability in a very thin quarterback room.
Beyond the QB injuries, the Browns also ruled out Cam Robinson (illness), Carson Schwesinger (ankle), and Isaiah Bond (foot) from Wednesday’s practice. Schwesinger and Bond also missed Monday’s session, leaving their Week 10 status questionable.
There has been no credible reporting suggesting that the Browns are considering moving on from Sanders. He and Gabriel are both in the first year of four-year rookie contracts, and neither was involved in trade speculation before Tuesday’s deadline.
PFSN’s Ian Cummings has projected the Browns to use their two 2025 first-round picks on another quarterback and an offensive tackle in the 2026 draft.
That makes Sanders’ return more than just a medical update. It is a checkpoint in the Browns’ long-term development plan. If he suits up on Sunday, the Browns regain roster flexibility. If not, the team enters another week one injury away from a full quarterback emergency.