How will Cleveland Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders play against the Las Vegas Raiders?
Cleveland Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders will make his first NFL start this Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Sanders made his NFL debut last week against the Baltimore Ravens after Dillon Gabriel exited the game with a concussion. The Colorado product went 4-16 for 47 yards and one interception.
Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks recently revealed what fans should expect from Sanders in the Browns-Raiders game. He wrote about it for NFL.com.
"Given Sanders' inexperience and struggles against Baltimore's pressure a week ago, Cleveland must have a plan to handle exotic blitzes and Cover 0 pressures (all-out blitzes)," Brooks wrote. "With the young signal-caller's athletic limitations, the Browns could add some hot routes/sight adjustments to route concepts or feature the screen game to counter the Raiders' blitz tactics. If Sanders can punish Las Vegas for utilizing some high-risk strategies, Carroll will quickly call off the dogs and challenge the rookie to win by stringing together completions.
"With a whole week to prepare for a defense that has struggled for most of this season, Sanders has an opportunity to prove his doubters wrong and jump-start a Browns offense that needs improved quarterback play. At the same time, the critics will be quick to bury him if he struggles. It's a big spot for the league's most high-profile fifth-round pick. I can't wait to take it in."
The Browns, who are 2-8 on the season, selected Sanders with the 144th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders, as expected, is super excited to start this Sunday.
"I'm truly excited for that, knowing that I have a piece of [the] offense and a say so and how things fit my eye and place the players exactly where they need to be," Sanders said. "Seeing how they come in and out of routes, seeing the structure of the O-linemen, seeing their set, just having a feeling.
"I'm more of a feel type of person, so that's how I learn, that's how I do everything. I'm not just, 'Imma just watch it, it's just going to happen.' No, I got to be out there, feel it. I got to move around. It's like so many details that it takes for me to feel my best and play my best and I'm doing everything in my power and the team's doing everything to help me get prepared."
The Browns have been looking for a franchise QB for so long.
Let's see is Sanders can become the hero Cleveland desperately needs.