The Cincinnati Bengals made a surprising trade with the Cleveland Browns, sending Joe Flacco to their division rival. The Bengals decided that Jake Browning wasn’t cutting it after Joe Burrow’s injury and made the move for Flacco.
This is significant for Cincinnati, as they have a new starter, but it also has implications for the Browns’ quarterback room. Dillon Gabriel is the starter, and the rest is a bit less clear, particularly where Shedeur Sanders stands in all of this. Sanders issued a candid statement following the deal.
Shedeur Sanders’ Reaction to the Trade
Cleveland’s quarterback situation was a major offseason storyline. With Flacco, Sanders, Gabriel, and Kenny Pickett all competing for the QB roles in Cleveland, there were many ways it could have shaken out. Now, Flacco and Pickett are with new teams, and Gabriel is the starter for the foreseeable future.
Sanders finally has a path to be the backup after being buried in the depth chart all offseason long.
“You tend to get a bit more excited when you can see a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Sanders.
“You tend to get a bit more excited when you can see a light at the end of the tunnel,” – Shedeur Sanders on him possibly being the Browns QB2. pic.twitter.com/1J4FNSfZP6
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) October 9, 2025
Sanders expressed his relief at finally being able to look to the future and envision a reality where he is on the field. He hasn’t suited up for any games yet, but if he does get the backup role, then he will finally be active on Sundays.
Sanders hasn’t been announced as the backup, and he’s competing against Bailey Zappe, who is currently on Cleveland’s practice squad. Head coach Kevin Stefanski won’t commit to one of the two just yet, but Sanders can finally see a path to playing time. He started the offseason as QB4 and could be the official backup by Week 6 of his rookie season.
Sanders was the only quarterback in Cleveland who didn’t get a shot to get reps with the first-team offense. He was relegated to the backups while Flacco, Gabriel, and Pickett all got their chance to shine.
Sanders has been through the ringer since leaving college, where he was one of the top QBs. It hasn’t been easy, and he’s been the center of a lot of media attention. From his historic slide at the 2025 NFL Draft to all the controversy that follows him, plus his limited playing time, Sanders has kept working and might be earning his keep.
But Gabriel will be the starter as long as he remains healthy. Regardless, it’s a step in the right direction for Sanders. Gabriel only has one start in his career and will likely have a long leash before the Browns turn to Sanders if he is confirmed as the backup.
The Browns are the 30th-ranked offense in PFSN’s Offense Impact score. Only the Bengals and Titans are worse. Gabriel has been tasked with getting the Cleveland offense going and helping them stack wins after yet another disappointing season in 2024. The Browns QB situation is interesting once more as fans await the news of the new backup in Cleveland.