Shedeur Sanders is in a quarterback battle with three other players for the starting job with the Cleveland Browns. While it’s still unclear whether he’ll win the job, he’s already making an impact off the field—something that caught the attention of former NFL wide receiver Cecil Shorts.
“I’ll be honest with you, I’ve never seen what Shedeur Sanders is doing this early on in a player’s career,” Shorts said on Cleveland’s 92.3 The Fan. “I’ve never seen that before, I’ve never seen a rookie come into the league and before he even played a snap is already in the Garden Valley Projects … All the things he’s doing (in the community). It’s a special thing he’s doing, that’s not normal.”
Former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick believes Joe Flacco will get the starting nod to begin the season. If that happens, it would likely leave Kenny Pickett on the outside looking in.
“If Dillon Gabriel wins the battle against Shedeur Sanders in the battle of the rookies, I actually don't see Shedeur Sanders going to the practice squad. If Shedeur Sanders beats Dillon Gabriel, I don't see Dillon Gabriel going to the practice squad. And I also don't see the Cleveland Browns keeping four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster...” said CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. “Well, who goes? The answer to that is whoever is the loser of Joe Flacco versus Kenny Pickett.”
While there’s no clear-cut favorite yet, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski says a decision will be made sooner rather than later.
“I think the big thing for me is putting our guys in position where we can evaluate them," Stefanski told reporters on Wednesday. "I think they did a great job in the spring, all four of those guys. We'll continue to put them in some situations, but ultimately, we'd love to make a decision sooner than later."
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The quarterbacks on the roster should know their fate fairly quickly. For Sanders, this has to be a message of proving himself quickly. Stefanski knows he works hard, but he has to show it on the field before it is too late and that decision will come quickly.