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Daniel Oyefusi
Berea, Ohio — Cleveland Browns season finale cincinnati bengals (6-10) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS) would be the seventh and final start of the season for the rookie quarterback. shadure sanders,
This game is also the last chance for Sanders to make a lasting impression on the Browns organization before an offseason that is once again filled with quarterback questions.
However, Sanders said he just wanted to show consistency in his final start of the Browns’ 4–12 season.
“Just staying consistent, taking what they give me,” Sanders said Wednesday. “Whenever we get off track, get back into rhythm, you know, get back on track. And I think that’s the next part of my game that I’m trying to develop, whenever we get stagnant or have any adversity, to be able to get back on track.”
The Browns are 2-4 since Sanders, the 144th overall pick in last April’s draft, took over as the starter in Week 12. He has shown flashes of brilliance, displaying the ability to push the ball downfield and turn potential sacks into positive plays. Sanders has also made his fair share of rookie mistakes, ranging from making bad decisions on throws to holding the ball too long in search of a big play.
In his six starts this season, Sanders ranks 28th out of 29 qualifying quarterbacks in total QBR (25.2). During that time frame, he has thrown seven touchdowns to seven interceptions, the latter of which is the most in the NFL.
Sanders’ average time to throw (3.22 seconds) only trails san francisco 49ers cubby brock purdy (3.24 seconds), but he also has to return behind a makeshift offensive line that has only one Week 1 starter – left guard. joel bitonio – Remaining in the lineup. Sanders has been pressured on 44.1% of his dropbacks, which is only low los angeles chargers cubby Justin Herbert (44.6%).
the Browns’ week 17 win against pittsburgh steelers There was a microcosm of Sanders’ time as the Browns’ starting quarterback. Sanders completed 17 of 23 passes for 186 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the 13–6 victory, and the opening drive of the game was one of Sanders’ best sequences this season.
He completed 10 of his first 13 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown in the first 20 minutes of the first half. However, on his 14th attempt, Sanders was hit on his blind side while attempting a pass, which hit his helmet and was stopped. Then early in the fourth quarter, Sanders made a poor decision and was held while throwing the ball across his body. The Browns’ offense stalled in the second half and scored three points after halftime.
“I have to be able to take appropriate, necessary risks,” Sanders said. “And even when you go through your progressions and don’t get a checkdown, what? So I feel like there’s been progression from getting to the reads to getting to the checkdown. Now, the biggest jump for me, is I plan to show up and plan to improve, when there’s no play and I can’t get out of it, I can’t run — what am I going to do with the ball.”
Despite Sanders’ ups and downs, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has seen week-to-week improvement from the rookie quarterback.
“Continue to build, continue to build on the things that he’s doing really well,” Stefanski said of Sanders. “As I told you guys, there are certain things you ask him to improve on every week, and he’s diligent about those things. So it’s just about improving and then winning. We talked about it last week. We want to win as a football team, obviously, as quarterbacks, we’re judged on wins and losses often, and it’s important, you know, to finish strong. So that’s what he’s going to try and help this team win.” Will bring it into position.”
Just as there is uncertainty surrounding Stefanski’s future, there is also uncertainty surrounding Sanders’ future as the Browns’ franchise quarterback. Cleveland’s win against the Steelers was a win that could have major implications on the draft and change the path of the Browns’ offseason; This left the team on the inside track for a top-two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft (a pick that could be used on a quarterback).
deshaun watsonJoe, who did not play this season as he rehabbed an Achilles tear last season, is reportedly set to return to Cleveland in 2026. and third round selection dillon gabrielwho started six consecutive games before suffering an injury in Week 11, is still under contract.
When Sanders was asked if he had shown he could be a franchise quarterback, he said, “I can’t think about what other people’s opinions are or how they view me.” “I know the teams we go up against, I know they definitely respect me in the passing game, but I can’t be held accountable for someone else’s decisions.”
