Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders hit a bump in the road during Wednesday’s practice, suffering an oblique injury that forced him to sit out the rest of the session.
The 23-year-old quickly went for an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, missing joint practice with the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Competition Heats Up in Quarterback Battle
Sanders is in the thick of a fierce quarterback competition for a coveted roster spot in Cleveland.
After starting the team’s first preseason game and throwing for two touchdowns with no interceptions, Sanders seemed to have an edge.
Any injury setback, however, could cost the fifth-round draft pick crucial reps in front of the coaching staff.
The former Colorado standout was coming off an arm injury earlier this summer but appeared fully healthy before Wednesday’s setback, which reportedly happened early in practice, according to ESPN.
Crowded Quarterback Room Creates Challenges
The Browns have five quarterbacks vying for just three spots on the active roster: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, fellow rookie Dillion Gabriel, Tyler Huntley, and Sanders himself.
Flacco is almost guaranteed one of those positions, while Pickett’s NFL experience makes him a strong candidate for another.
Sanders was competing head-to-head with Gabriel for the final spot, with one likely landing on the practice squad.
Huntley’s recent signing complicates matters further, making it unlikely the Browns keep all five players into the regular season.
From Top Prospect to Fifth-Round Pick
Sanders’ journey to the NFL has been unconventional. Once considered a top prospect, he surprisingly fell to the fifth round, two rounds after Gabriel.
His draft slide sparked debate, with some claiming he should have been the number one pick, though reports suggested teams were wary of his “entitled” attitude in pre-draft meetings.
Since entering the league, Sanders has stayed focused and undeterred, determined to prove himself from the ground up.
“You know, no excuses. I’ll put in the work and do what I have to do,” he said in July. “It’ll be a challenge. But I like the challenge.”
Browns Management Weighs In
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam addressed Sanders’ selection, noting the decision to draft him was ultimately made by general manager Andrew Berry. “We had the right people involved in the conversation.
At the end of the day, that’s [G.M.] Andrew Berry’s call. Andrew made the call to pick Shedeur,” Haslam told reporters during training camp in late July.
Looking Ahead to Preseason and Regular Season
The Browns’ next preseason game is Saturday against the Eagles, with head coach Kevin Stefanski yet to announce a starting quarterback.
Cleveland opens the regular season on September 7 against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, leaving Sanders just a few weeks to recover and make an impression.