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The Cleveland Browns are apparently not ready to promote Shedeur Sanders to backup quarterback – even after trading Joe Flacco to the Bengals.
Flacco began the 2025 season as the Browns’ starter, only to be dropped in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel ahead of last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
The 40-year-old was then traded to Cincinnati to the ‘surprise’ of head coach Kevin Stefanski. That left Gabriel as the starter and Sanders as the only other quarterback listed on the Browns depth chart.
But ahead of this week’s clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Stefanski refused to confirm that Sanders will move up to QB 2.
The son of NFL legend Deion Sanders was selected by the Browns after an embarrassing slide to the fifth round of this year’s draft.
He has been inactive for Cleveland’s first five games, serving as the emergency quarterback. But it’s possible that Bailey Zappe could be activated from the practice squad to play behind Gabriel.
The Browns are apparently not ready to promote Shedeur Sanders to backup quarterback
Head coach Kevin Stefanski refused to confirm whether Sanders will move up to QB 2
‘All roster-type of things, I always have to be mindful of our players and our players’ development,’ Stefanski said on Wednesday, when asked about Sanders being promoted to No 2.
‘And I want to make sure that I’m always doing what´s best for our players and, of course, our team.
‘Last week, making the change to Dillon, you have to think long and hard about that, because these are young players that you are so invested in their development. So, I’ll let the decision play out and make a decision later.’
Gabriel showed poise in his debut last week in London against Minnesota. The rookie is the 41st different quarterback to start for the Browns since 1999.
But Sanders is likely to start at some point this season as the Browns (1-4) try to end a decades-long search for a franchise QB.
There is a vocal segment of Cleveland’s fan base clamoring to see if Sanders, who has a strong arm and social media presence, can be that guy.
Stefanski said the move to send the 40-year-old Flacco to a division rival caught him off guard. The Browns re-signed Flacco, who led them on a playoff run in 2023, as a free agent in this offseason and had him start four games before benching him.
‘That was not something that we saw coming,’ Stefanski said. ‘They called us and it happened very fast.’
Joe Flacco began the 2025 season as the Browns’ starter before being traded to the Bengals
Dillon Gabriel is the new starter, with Sanders the only other QB listed on their depth chart
The coach added: ‘I trust AB (general manager Andrew Berry)… we talk about every decision we make. They wanted Joe. They made the phone call. Obviously, it gives Joe an opportunity to go play again, but I trust in our decisions.’
Sanders addressed the Flacco trade on Tuesday, telling FOX8: ‘He was definitely somebody I leaned on for wisdom, and I feel he helped me a lot.’
The 23-year-old added; ‘He helped me a lot in my time being here in Cleveland and his time being here in Cleveland.
‘Everybody has their own destinies and have their own plans…I’m just happy for him.’
