Browns QB Shedeur Sanders to make 1st NFL start, coach says - ESPN

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns will start Shedeur Sanders at quarterback in Sunday's road game against the Las Vegas Raiders, coach Kevin Stefanski announced Wednesday, as Dillon Gabriel remains in the NFL's concussion protocol.

A son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and Colorado football coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders began his NFL career in Cleveland as the No. 4 quarterback but has slowly made his way up the depth chart and will now make his first start in Week 12. Sanders will become the 42nd quarterback to start a game for the Browns since the franchise returned to Cleveland in 1999.

Sanders, the 144th overall pick in the 2025 draft, made his NFL debut in the second half of Sunday's 23-16 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens after Gabriel was checked for a concussion at halftime and later ruled out. Sanders struggled in the defeat, completing 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception. He was also sacked twice.

Stefanski confirmed after Sanders' debut that those were the first snaps he had taken alongside the starting offense in any setting, and Sanders acknowledged the need to develop chemistry with the starting unit. Gabriel has not been cleared to practice, so Sanders will get those valuable practice reps in preparation for his first start.

Sanders has said that he is ready to contribute and play, but the Browns have taken a slower approach to his development. During the broadcast of the preseason finale, general manager Andrew Berry likened Sanders' transition to the pros to someone who was «fluent in English and now you have to learn Mandarin.»

Throughout the season, Sanders has split scout team reps with the team's other backup quarterbacks; Bailey Zappe is signed to the practice squad. On Oct. 22,