The Cleveland Browns’ joint practice session with the Philadelphia Eagles took an unexpected turn when rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was forced to cut his day short. The focus quickly shifted to the team’s prized first-round pick as medical staff tended to him early in practice.
Is Shedeur Sanders’ Injury a Setback for the Browns’ Rookie QB?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Sanders suffered an oblique injury while throwing during the early portion of practice and was held out for the rest of the session.
The injury came after what was an unprecedented practice for Sanders. According to ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi, on Aug. 11, the rookie had the most reps of any of the four other quarterbacks — something he earned after his NFL debut vs. the Carolina Panthers.
In Cleveland’s preseason opener, Sanders put together a convincing performance, finishing with 138 passing yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders suffered an oblique injury while throwing during the early portion of practice today, and was held out for the rest of the session.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 13, 2025
Sanders showcased impressive accuracy with poise, both in and out of the pocket, in the 30-10 win. Though he remains the fourth-string quarterback on the Browns’ depth chart coming out of Week 1, that might change very quickly depending on the severity of the injury.
“We are very, very obsessed with player development and the development of our quarterbacks,” head coach Kevin Stefanski told the media after practice.
Will Sanders Start in Preseason Game 2 vs. Philadelphia Eagles?
Stefanski told reporters that fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel may start against the Eagles on Saturday, Aug. 16.
“The plan was always to give each of those guys a start in the preseason, so we’ll see how it shakes out.”
Gabriel has been dealing with a hamstring injury, as has quarterback Kenny Pickett, but the Oregon product took part in team drills for the second consecutive day, which could put him in line to make his NFL debut on Saturday.
Given injuries at the key position, the team was forced to bring veteran Tyler “Snoop” Huntley into an already crowded QB room. Interestingly enough, Joe Flacco, 40, has been the healthiest of the group throughout training camp.
With two first-year quarterbacks on the roster and only two more preseason games to go, Stefanski has to get a good look at Gabriel to see how he measures up to Sanders. Gabriel was selected 50 spots ahead of Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft.
We’re 22 days away from the 2025 NFL season kickoff, and the Browns will need to make a decision soon on who starts Week 1 when they host division rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.
#Update:Â Sanders will not practice on Thursday due to the oblique strain, and he is unlikely to play against the Eagles in preseason Week 2.
This is a big blow for the former Colorado quarterback who impressed everyone with his performance against the Panthers. Hopefully, he will get healthy soon and get an opportunity in Week 3 of the preseason against the Los Angeles Rams.
