Few NFL players face more scrutiny than Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Even when he stays silent, he still finds himself in the spotlight, and not always for the right reasons. This week, Cleveland named fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel the Week 5 starter, leaving Sanders buried on the depth chart at QB3.
When asked about the decision, Sanders declined to give a straightforward response. Instead, he mouthed words without context, frustrating reporters and sparking debate online. The strange exchange quickly went viral, with former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho among the critics, calling Sanders’ behavior “immature.”
Emmanuel Acho Rips Shedeur Sanders’ Interview Tactics
There’s no denying Sanders has a huge personality that often shows in positive and negative ways. This has contributed to a handful of iconic moments and celebrations on the field, but it also tends to put him under a negative spotlight.
While ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sanders’ latest antics came “in response to ESPN analyst Rex Ryan criticizing the rookie QB earlier this week,” many analysts have still called the behavior immature and unnecessary.
“I believe that Shedeur’s response was immature,” Acho said on the “Speakeasy” show on Wednesday. “Shedeur’s response was what we do when our significant other says, ‘Hey, can you give me a second,’ and then we decide not to talk to them for the rest of the day to prove to them a point, when the mature response will be, ‘Hey, what you said hurt my feelings, and I’m going to vocalize that,’ as opposed to shutting down and not saying anything.”
Sanders, who slipped to No. 144 in the 2025 NFL Draft, was supposed to be the starter in the NFL by this time. However, off-field issues have derailed his NFL career so far, and he is a third-string QB behind Gabriel and Joe Flacco in Cleveland. Ryan, who blasted Sanders earlier in the week, argued the rookie squandered an opportunity when Gabriel was named the starter.
“Something’s missing with this kid,” Ryan said. “This kid talks, he runs his mouth like he’s a — ‘I could be a starting quarterback’ with his arms crossed like this. Get your ass in the front row and study and do all that…You’ve got the talent to be the quarterback. You should be embarrassed that you’re not the quarterback now.”
Nevertheless, Sanders had the backing of his father and NFL legend Deion Sanders for the miming response, and he may be the next man to have his chance as the Browns’ starter if the former Oregon Duck crumbles. Gabriel was selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, so the expectations for him fall short of being the face of the franchise.
