The Cleveland Browns may have found an unexpected edge in prepping Shedeur Sanders for the pros — and it’s not reps on the field. Head coach Kevin Stefanski is leaning into something new, something outside the box. He’s hoping a fresh approach to the way quarterback reps are split up will help his young players develop quickly.
Virtual Reps Could Be the Key for Shedeur Sanders’ Development
When Stefanski spoke on “The Really Big Show” on 850 ESPN Cleveland, the head coach made one thing clear — quarterback reps at OTAs won’t be divided evenly. Veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett will get the bulk of the on-field action. Sanders and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel will make up for it another way — with virtual reality.
“It’s not going to be [evenly split],” Stefanski said. “The big thing for us is making sure we give the guys enough reps that they need, making sure they have enough for both learning the system and developing, and for us to evaluate them.”
Instead, the rookies will lean heavily on the Browns’ advanced tech — a 25-yard virtual walkthrough screen and a full VR training program that replicates live reps.
Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel will rely heavily on the Browns’ advanced VR tech to get mental reps while Flacco and Pickett handle most of the physical work. Coaches say virtual walkthroughs will help the rookies stay sharp and accelerate development. pic.twitter.com/I0zvApLNA4
— Ossacin’s Ducktail (@OssacinDucktail)
Stefanski emphasized how VR has become an effective learning tool, especially for young quarterbacks. Jayden Daniels used VR to accelerate his development during his breakout rookie season with the Washington Commanders. He went on to earn NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2024.
“VR can be a big tool, especially for young players,” Stefanski said. “It depends on the player, how they like it. That’s something we’ll definitely be working with the next three weeks.”
Can Shedeur Sanders Rise Up the Depth Chart?
The Browns currently have five quarterbacks on the roster, including Deshaun Watson who is recovering from an Achilles injury and likely out for the entire 2025 campaign. While Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett are the leading candidates to win the starting job, Sanders’ path isn’t closed. Stefanski isn’t shutting the door on him yet.
“Shedeur’s a great kid,” Stefanski said. “He’s in there early. He’s getting his work done. He is a great, great kid. He’s working like crazy. I like everything there is about Shedeur.”
Despite falling to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders remains one of the most talked-about rookies — leading the class in jersey sales and social media attention. That spotlight hasn’t distracted him from the grind.
It’s unclear how much Stefanski’s comments are a genuine belief or pressure-influenced optimism. But one thing is certain — if the Browns’ “secret weapon” works again, as it did for Daniels, Sanders might force his way into Cleveland’s future sooner than expected.