The Cleveland Browns decided to hold rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders out of practice on Saturday due to shoulder soreness. Missing practice while competing for the starting job isn’t ideal, but Sanders recently explained why he sat out during an interview.
Shedeur Sanders Addresses Shoulder Injury After Missing Browns Practice
The Browns selected Sanders with the No. 144 pick in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he has been competing with the other quarterbacks on the roster for the starting job throughout fall camp.
On the ninth day of practice, the team held Sanders out due to shoulder soreness. Many questioned the decision since the young quarterback was just starting to get first-team reps, and the injury didn’t seem serious enough to miss important practice time.
However, Sanders is shedding light on his injury, saying his shoulder wasn’t used to taking time between reps.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders said he’s all good and will return to practice fully after being held out team drills on Saturday because of arm soreness. He explains it all here: pic.twitter.com/m7ULa55rEv
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) August 4, 2025
“It was just adjusting to starting and stopping, that’s all it truly is,” Sanders said. “Sometimes you’ll go in hot, and then you’ll wait for a second, and you’ll get cold, and then you’ll get hot, and then get cold. My arm and body wasn’t used to that.”
It’s an interesting explanation, but it makes sense. Anyone who has thrown a football around in their backyard for the first time in a while knows what shoulder soreness feels like.
As the starter in college, Sanders kept his shoulder warm by taking all the first-team reps in practice and didn’t take long breaks between throws.
Now, buried on the Browns’ depth chart and splitting reps with three other quarterbacks, his arm doesn’t stay as loose as it did in college. That led to the soreness building up.
The good news is that Sanders is fully ready for the team’s tenth training camp practice today and will participate in drills.
Shedeur Sanders expected to be full-go in practice on Day 10 of #Browns camp today after being shut down with arm soreness on Saturday: —–> https://t.co/P9AaOBYiU9
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 4, 2025
Missing Saturday’s practice definitely set Sanders back in the quarterback battle, since the fifth-round pick has the most to prove to the coaching staff.
It’s good that he understands the reasons behind his injury and can prevent it in the future by keeping his arm loose and throwing throughout practice, even while waiting for reps during drills.
Sanders has been solid throughout training camp and is statistically one of the team’s best quarterbacks. If he keeps playing like this, he’ll be in a good position to compete for the starting job.
