PHILADELPHIA — An enormous crowd of reporters rushed to the second follow area on the NovaCare Advanced to see Shedeur Sanders go up in opposition to the No. 1 protection within the NFL from final yr. Seven-on-7 reps had been about to start, with constructing anticipation of Sanders taking snaps in opposition to the very best of the very best.
The primary rep came about, and Joe Flacco was with the primary group. No Sanders, no drawback. The gang of reporters figured the 40-year previous veteran would get the primary look. Then got here Dillon Gabriel with the second group.
The hyped-Browns rookie was nowhere to be seen with any of the quarterbacks. Flacco and Pickett had been with the 1s, Gabriel with the 2s and Tyler Huntley with the 3s. The place was Sanders?
Sanders was seen warming up previous to follow, throwing balls in opposition to the goalpost on the third follow area. Engaged on his footwork, timing and accuracy, the rookie quarterback was making ready for an enormous day. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated simply quarter-hour previous to this warmup session Sanders would begin Saturday’s preseason sport in opposition to the Eagles — if Gabriel was unable to attributable to harm — so loads of reps ought to have been coming Sanders’ manner in the course of the scorching sizzling and very humid joint follow.
The crimson flags had been up. One thing occurred between that particular person interval and the 7-on-7 session. Sanders wasn’t seen wherever on the crowded NovaCare Advanced follow fields to the bare eye. He definitely wasn’t partaking in any group drills.
Then got here the information in the direction of the tip of the follow. The Browns introduced Sanders suffered an indirect harm throughout particular person drills and was held out of shape as a precautionary measure. Sanders is not going to follow Thursday and is unlikely to play within the group’s Week 2 preseason sport, per The Athletic.
There went the Sanders hype, alongside along with his probabilities to additional increase his inventory within the ever-evolving quarterback competitors in Cleveland. Pickett and Gabriel returned after battling hamstring accidents final week, which gave Sanders the chance to start out the preseason opener final week.
Sanders lit it up in opposition to the Panthers, going 14 of 23 for 138 yards with two touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He made NFL-caliber throws and showcased that maybe his draft fall was over-reactionary. Taking part in in opposition to the Eagles protection could be a real take a look at for Sanders, a golden alternative to indicate his preseason flash wasn’t a fluke.
As an alternative, the hype by no means materialized. The balloon was deflated.
Shedeur Sanders turned heads in Browns debut, however probably QB pecking order stays unchanged in Cleveland
Matt Zenitz
The response
Sanders wasn’t seen all through the follow as he sat out, however the rookie quarterback wished to talk with one participant after follow. That was Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, as the 2 congregated on the primary follow area and had a protracted dialog.
Hurts even gave Sanders a elevate again to the locker room on a gold cart after the chat.
“There is a sense of obligation to be your self, and that is who I’m to be sincere and real and expressing how I am going to the place I’m right now,” Hurts stated on being a task mannequin for younger quarterbacks. “It wasn’t a simple journey. It is all the time gonna current some challenges, however proceed to be who I’m, proceed to hold myself in a humble manner, and all the time placing the work first.
“I am conscious of that. I do know that is nonetheless a torch that I maintain. It is one thing I respect and embrace and settle for it for what it’s. On the similar time, I all the time put my deal with how I may be the very best I may be and hopefully my actions can communicate louder than something.”
In the meantime, Sanders informed Flacco concerning the harm that occurred throughout follow, however there’s nothing Flacco may say to maintain his spirits up.
“It is kinda powerful,” Flacco stated. “All of us need to be on the market and getting reps. That is what coaching camp and soccer is all about, typically this stuff occur. Typically you take care of them. It’s what it’s.”
Flacco was then requested about Gabriel progressing by means of his hamstring harm. The honesty got here out, together with a message to each Gabriel and Sanders.
“We’re in that room collectively and we’re doing issues collectively. Once we come out on this area, I am not tremendous apprehensive about what Dillon is doing to get again from his hamstring.
“I am centered on us getting higher and us doing the very best we are able to in opposition to Philly — and that features him. … So far as him coming again and preparing? Look, I do know he is itching to get again on the market. While you’re younger and also you’re in a quarterback room that is in a contest and you do not get to be on the market day-after-day, that is powerful.
“My message to him is do not press. Simply go on the market and be your self. … Simply go play your sport. If there was a message for him, that might be it.”
The veteran quarterback had some phrases of knowledge for his youthful counterparts. Gabriel appeared to press in his return, so let’s examine if Sanders heeds Flacco’s recommendation each time he returns to the sector.
What does it imply?
The Browns quarterback competitors simply received a complete lot stranger. Flacco continues to be the chief within the clubhouse to be the starter come Week 1, however that is the most recent in a protracted line of accidents on this place group.
Pickett continues to be nursing a hamstring harm and Gabriel simply received again from his after each signal-callers missed follow final week. The Browns signed Huntley for quarterback depth with all of the accidents within the room, however Huntley is not competing for the beginning quarterback job.
Flacco led the first-team offense with 13 cross makes an attempt whereas Pickett threw six. Gabriel had 19 makes an attempt, however the majority had been with the second group. If Gabriel is sweet to go for Saturday, he’ll begin the preseason sport — however joint practices are a greater indicator of the place issues stand within the quarterback battle.
Proper now, it is Flacco after which Pickett. As for Sanders, we’ll have to attend and see.
