T͏he Cleveland Browns ar͏e he͏a͏ding into Wee͏k 12 wi͏th n͏ot much ͏left to ͏salva͏ge ͏f͏r͏om a disappointing 2͏-8 season, but͏ there’s still a lot to eva͏luat͏e. With rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel out due to a concussion and the playoffs no longer a possibility, the team is looking ahead.
This means one of the most talked-about 2024 draft prospects, Shedeur Sanders, is set for his first NFL start, under heavy expectations and even heavier scrutiny.
Shedeur Sanders Faces His Biggest Stage Yet
His debut against the Ravens was a rough one: 4-of-16 passing for 47 yards, one interception, and two sacks for 27 lost yards. Now, with a full week of first-team reps and a vulnerable Raiders defense ahead, Week 12 becomes a true measuring stick.
On SPEAKEASY, former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho offered one of the most straightforward evaluations Sanders has faced since joining the league.
“Shedeur has never been under more pressure playing the game of football in his life than he will be under this weekend making his first start,” Acho stated. He brushed off Sanders’ shaky debut in Baltimore, pointing out the lack of preparation and the Ravens’ top-tier, blitz-heavy defense, which has been one of the best in the league recently.
However, Acho’s tone took a turn when he talked about the upcoming opponent. “You got a whole week of practice with the ones. You’re going up against an atrocious defense… there is no more pressure you will ever be under thus far in your career than this Sunday.”
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His point was clear: this is the litmus test. Facing a struggling 2-8 Raiders team that’s been torn apart by opposing quarterbacks and ranks low in most defensive stats, Sanders has a chance to either reshape his story or solidify it. A standout performance could spark a full-blown quarterback debate, especially with fans eager for a change.
LeSean McCoy, a fellow Super Bowl champ and former All-Pro, shared a different yet insightful take. “There’s no pressure for a rookie quarterback. You’re a rookie. We know you might struggle your first start, but it might be more personal because you wasn’t supposed to start,” he said. McCoy also noted that the opponent matters, saying, “It’s the Raiders though… real bad defense.”
That opportunity comes after a tumultuous week off the field as well, with Sanders’ home reportedly broken into during the Browns’ Week 11 game, another wrinkle in an already dramatic debut stretch.
Since 1999, the Browns have gone through 42 starting quarterbacks after Sanders took the mantle, an unsettling number for a franchise still seeking long-term stability at the position. Gabriel is anticipated to reclaim his spot once he clears concussion protocol, but insiders hint that things could get tricky if Sanders shines.
As the Browns head to Las Vegas, the stakes go beyond just the win-loss column. The Browns are ranked last with 52.7 in offense in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric.
For Sanders, Week 12 could mark the start of a real quarterback competition or confirm that Cleveland will once again seek solutions in the offseason. For a franchise desperate for direction, Sunday might be the clearest picture they’ve had all year.