At long last, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has finally made his 2025 season debut on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.
Sanders entered the game in the third quarter after Browns starting quarterback and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel was removed from the contest to be evaluated for a concussion, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Gabriel was later ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Sanders completed his first two passes of the game, finding wide receiver Cedric Tillman for a five-yard gain before connecting with tight end David Njoku for a seven-yard pass following a penalty. Unfortunately, his first NFL drive ended when he was sacked and stripped by Ravens star safety Kyle Hamilton. Cleveland managed to recover the ball before punting it away on fourth down. On the team’s next possession, he threw his first incompletion before throwing an interception.
The Browns selected Sanders with a fifth-round pick in the 2025 draft, two rounds after they drafted Gabriel. The two rookies participated in a quarterback competition that was won by veteran Joe Flacco, but Gabriel was given the starting job before Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals, elevating Sanders from the No. 3 quarterback to the backup.
Throughout the year, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski remained coy about whether Sanders would get the chance to start during the season, but Gabriel’s injury forced him to turn to the former Colorado signal-caller on Sunday.
Sanders faced a slew of critics before he ever got the chance to step on the field in the NFL, so now is his chance to silence his doubters. Cleveland fans will certainly be hoping to see his potential while he fills in for Gabriel.
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