The Cleveland Browns (2-6) return to action on Sunday following their Week 9 bye with a matchup against the New York Jets (1-7).
Cleveland opened the season with veteran Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback but traded him to the Cincinnati Bengals after four starts. Since then, the team has turned to rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, who appears to be getting a legitimate opportunity to prove himself as the franchise’s future at the position.
Waiting behind him is fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders, whom the Browns selected in the fifth round.
Sanders moved into the backup role after Flacco’s departure, and following a back injury that kept him out of the team’s Week 8 game, his status was uncertain heading into this week.
That said, on Friday, head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Sanders is healthy and will serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind Gabriel, with Bailey Zappe designated as the emergency third-string option.
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Leading up to the NFL draft, Sanders was widely projected as the No. 2 quarterback prospect behind Cam Ward on most big boards. However, things changed quickly, and he experienced a dramatic draft-day slide, ultimately falling to Day 3, where the Cleveland Browns selected him.
Sanders spent all four of his collegiate seasons playing under his father, Deion Sanders — two at Jackson State in the FCS before transferring to Colorado. There, he capped off his career as one of the most productive quarterbacks in program history.
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