Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders continued to be sidelined from practice due to an oblique injury.
It is not certain that he would play in the Browns team’s upcoming preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Sanders picked up the injury during drills prior to Wednesday’s practice session. The Browns are in Philadelphia for a set of joint practices leading up to Saturday’s preseason matchup.
According to the team, Sanders is considered day to day.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski offered an update ahead of Thursday’s practice, confirming that Sanders would be sidelined “for a little bit.” Stefanski emphasized the importance of protecting the young quarterback’s health, particularly because of the physical demands of the position.
“If you’re a right guard, you can kind of play though that,” Stefanski said. “When it’s a quarterback, you kind of need that muscle to throw.”
While Sanders has not been officially ruled out for Saturday’s game, his participation appears unlikely. Stefanski also confirmed that veteran backup Joe Flacco would not be playing against the Eagles. This leaves Tyler “Snoop” Huntley and Dillon Gabriel as the primary candidates to see significant playing time under center. Starting quarterback Kenny Pickett is also limited due to a hamstring injury.
Sanders had a promising NFL preseason debut last Friday night in a win over the Carolina Panthers. He completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards, throwing two first-half touchdown passes to receiver Kaden Davis. The performance was a strong opening act for the highly anticipated rookie.
The Browns selected Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 144th overall pick, a surprisingly late selection for one of the most talked-about players in the draft class. Sanders had been projected by some analysts as a higher pick, given his college accolades and performance.
Last season at Colorado, Sanders made a major impact under center, throwing for a school-record 4,134 yards and finishing eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting. His talent and potential were evident throughout the college season, making his draft-day slide all the more unexpected.
Despite the current setback, Stefanski remains confident that Sanders can continue to develop, even while sidelined.
“Injuries stink for all these guys,” Stefanski said. “They don’t want to miss a rep for any reason. There’s a way to continue to prepare to continue to get better even when you’re not getting those reps because of injury.”
As the Browns continue their preseason preparations, the team will monitor Sanders’ progress closely, balancing the urgency of his development with the importance of long-term health.
