The Deep End: Shedeur Sanders’ Rocky Debut and the Inevitable First Start

Read Time:2 Minute, 37 Second

CLEVELAND, OH — The wait is over. After a season spent largely as a spectator, fifth-round rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders made his highly anticipated, emotionally charged NFL debut on Sunday for the Cleveland Browns, thrust into action after starter Dillon Gabriel was sidelined with a concussion. The result—a rough, uneven performance in a 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens—was immediately followed by a brutally honest post-game assessment, highlighting the severe lack of preparation that now dominates the narrative around the rookie.

Sanders was forced into the game at the start of the third quarter, and the transition was predictably jarring. He finished the day completing just four of sixteen passes for 47 yards, throwing one interception, and absorbing two sacks. The energy in the stadium shifted instantly upon his arrival, but the crispness and composure that defined his college career at Colorado were absent. He struggled immediately with the speed of the Ravens defense, often looking rushed and disconnected from his receivers.

The Unprepared Quarterback

Following the loss, Sanders pulled no punches about his performance or the factors that contributed to it. His candid comments—which drew attention across the league—focused on a critical organizational issue: his minimal exposure to the first-team offense.

“I don’t think I played good at all,” Sanders stated, taking full accountability. He then added the telling detail: “I think that was my first ball [throw] to [wide receiver] Jerry Jeudy all year. But other than that, I just think overall, we just got to go next week and understand, so then we have a week to prepare stuff I like to do.”

Coach Kevin Stefanski later confirmed that Sanders had taken virtually no first-team practice snaps since being drafted in April, a scenario that is common for mid-round backups but utterly unforgiving when facing a talented defense like the Ravens. His mother, Pilar Sanders, publicly echoed the frustration on social media, calling the lack of preparation “wild.” The takeaway was clear: Sanders was thrown into the deep end of the NFL waters without a single rehearsal with the starting unit.

What Happens Next: Opportunity Knocks

Despite the struggle, Sanders’ debut immediately shifted the focus of the Browns’ season. With Dillon Gabriel now in concussion protocol, the young quarterback is almost certainly in line to make his first NFL start next week against the Las Vegas Raiders. This provides him with the opportunity he demanded in his post-game conference: a full week of practice to prepare as the starter, take valuable first-team reps, and build chemistry with the top receivers.

This next outing will be the true gauge of his potential. He will have the benefit of a game plan tailored to his strengths and a week’s worth of live reps, a stark contrast to Sunday’s chaotic substitution. While the debut was a difficult initiation into the league, it has accelerated his path from fifth-round prospect to starting quarterback, a monumental leap he must now prove he is ready to take. The Sanders family legacy and the hopes of a struggling Browns franchise will be watching closely.