- NFL. Shedeur Sanders breaks viewership records in explosive NFL preseason debut
- NFL. Shedeur Sanders knows Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel aren't better than him; things are heating up in Cleveland
Things are heating up more each day within the Cleveland Browns organization, especially after Shedeur Sanders shined in the first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers and sent a clear message to the other competitors that it won't be easy for them - and that if it's not in Cleveland, he'll surely be catching the eye of another NFL franchise.
Many were expecting Shedeur Sanders to fail - in fact, that's what they were waiting for - but if there's one thing this man has, it's self-confidence. Last week, without having any first-team reps, he was thrown to the wolves and ended up shining with two touchdown passes, along with an offensive performance that people are still talking about.
Life is about taking advantage of opportunities, and days before the game, both Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel suffered injuries, leaving Kevin Stefanski with no choice but to send Shedeur Sanders onto the field - and he delivered perfectly. But even that might not be enough for Sanders.
Analyst believes Kevin Stefanski still prefers Dillon Gabriel
Shedeur Sanders was selected in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns in the recent Draft. However, two rounds earlier, the team had selected another quarterback - Dillon Gabriel - who has had far more opportunities in practice than Sanders.
It has leaked thatDillon Gabriel will return this week to 11-on-11 drills, and if he's ready, Stefanski will surely give him an opportunity on Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Browns analyst Albert Breer believes that although Shedeur Sanders had a good performance, it won't be enough to surpass Dillon Gabriel in the depth chart.
"At this point, they would feel more comfortable putting Dillon Gabriel in a regular season game than they would Shedeur Sanders. That doesn't mean that can't change," Breer said. "I don't think a few throws in a preseason game is going to be the change agent that people want it to be."
It will all come down to what happens on Saturday in the preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Kevin Stefanski may indeed prefer Dillon Gabriel, but if Gabriel doesn't perform well and Sanders does, there will no longer be an argument to keep him above Sanders.