The Cleveland Browns are giving fifth-round draft pick Shedeur Sanders a shot at starting quarterback in the team’s NFL preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers on Friday night, August 8. While this is happening, ESPN “First Take” host Stephen A. Smith says that Sanders is being set up to fail.
But one voice has come out in public to smack down Smith’s comments. Who is that person? None other than Quincy Avery, who happens to be the private quarterback coach to the Browns’ currently-sidelined Deshaun Watson.
What Did Quincy Avery Say About Browns QB Situation?
Avery caught Smith talking about Sanders and had some different thoughts than those expressed by Smith on TV. On Thursday, August 7, Avery headed to X and re-posted Smith’s comments while adding his opinion.
Oh no, not a chance to actually play football as a 4th string QB and 5th round pick. What a nightmare. Can’t believe some folks are already lining up the excuses. Unreal. https://t.co/pjjHsI9AAr
— Quincy Avery (@QuincyAvery) August 7, 2025
“Oh no, not a chance to actually play football as a 4th string QB and 5th round pick,” Avery wrote. “What a nightmare. Can’t believe some folks are already lining up the excuses. Unreal.”
“There’s been 11 practices if I remember correctly,” Smith said on “First Take” on Thursday morning. “He’s (Sanders) been playing against the third unit. He’s fourth on the depth chart. And then suddenly you throw him into the starting lineup? And he hasn’t had any reps with the first team at all.”
“Think about that,” Smith continued. “So you’re just going to throw him to the wolves like that, huh? If he had first-team snaps in practice, I don’t say that. But he doesn’t and then all of a sudden he’s starting tomorrow night? It’s like you want him to fail.”
Will Shedeur Sanders Prove Doubters Wrong?
Smith had more to say about Sanders’ start on Friday’s “First Take.”
Sanders’ NFL experience already has been a bit of a nightmare. Coming out of Colorado, where he played for his father, Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur was slotted as a potential first-round pick.
But Sanders saw his stock slide as the 2025 NFL Draft wore on, eventually leading Cleveland to pick him. The Browns already had plenty of quarterbacks, yet the organization must have seen something that impressed them.
Sanders has been a pretty model student in training camp, playing as his coaches want him to. He’s also been accessible to Browns fans who come out to camp, signing autographs for kids.
Watching Sanders play on Friday night will give either Smith or Avery a chance to boast that they know what they are talking about. Maybe Sanders will prove his doubters wrong.
