The injury that knocked Shedeur Sanders out of the Cleveland Browns’ Week 8 matchup against the New England Patriots appears more serious than initially believed.
Sanders was a late addition to the injury report prior to the game with a back injury. He traveled with the team and tested it out pregame. However, he did not suit up, with Bailey Zappe assuming the backup role behind Dillon Gabriel.
“He obviously came in on Saturday with his back injury. We were hopeful that he’d be able to move around well enough to suit up on Sunday. But, put him through a pre-game warm-up, and obviously just didn’t feel like he was ready to play,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “But he’s getting better every day and I’m hopeful that he’ll continue to improve.”
Sanders told reporters after the game that it wasn’t his decision to sit out and that he’d be ready after the bye week. It remains unclear how Sanders suffered the injury, but he’s working hard to get back on the field.
Recently, Sanders traveled to Colorado to surprise his dad, Deion Sanders. In a video released by Well Off Media, run by Deion Sanders Jr., Shedeur is seen undergoing rehab both on the flight and at the facility in Colorado. Initially, Shedeur said he would remain in Cleveland for the bye week to receive treatment, but he took the show on the road for his brief stop in Colorado.
### Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Will Have to Wait for Opportunity
Dillon Gabriel has struggled to spark the offense in his four starts. He’s posted a 1-3 record, passing for 702 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. Gabriel is averaging just 4.9 yards per attempt, which ranks near the bottom of the league.
Despite this, Cleveland will continue to stick with Gabriel as the starter coming out of the bye week. Coach Stefanski pointed to broader offensive issues, emphasizing that the team’s struggles go beyond just the quarterback position and that multiple areas need improvement.
“Playing good on offense is about 11 guys on the field and us as coaches doing our job,” Stefanski said. “Obviously, young players will learn in each outing that they’re out there. I think Dillon will continue to learn and get better, but it’s really an entire offensive thing where we all need to be better.”
When asked about Sanders getting a chance to play, Stefanski said it’s not his current “focus.”
### Browns QB Dillon Gabriel ‘Must Show Improvement’
The Browns currently hold a 2-6 record, and their offense has become nearly unwatchable. However, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot believes Dillon Gabriel will have at least four more games on his “leash” before the team considers turning to Shedeur Sanders.
“I think the Browns need to give Gabriel a little more time to come up the learning curve and develop more timing and rhythm with his skill players before they sit him down. I would think they’d want to give him at least another four games or so before seeing what Shedeur Sanders can do down the stretch if he’s ready,” Cabot said.
“But Gabriel must show improvement in the passing game and put some points on the board to keep his job. It’s not fair to the defense or the rest of the team to field a quarterback who isn’t getting the job done when there are alternatives.”
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