Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will make his first NFL start on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12. The fifth-round pick steps in for concussed teammate Dillon Gabriel, becoming the third different starting QB for the 2-9 Browns this season. Sanders struggled in his brief Week 11 debut, completing 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception.
The Cleveland Browns continue their quarterback carousel, with rookie Shedeur Sanders preparing for his debut start after head coach Kevin Stefanski's announcement on Wednesday. Sanders, the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, entered the league as the No. 144 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after starring at Colorado. He replaces Dillon Gabriel, a third-round rookie who suffered a concussion during the Browns' 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11.
This marks the third starting quarterback for Cleveland in 2025, following Joe Flacco and Gabriel. The Browns have now had 42 different starting QBs since resuming operations in 1999, highlighting their ongoing search for stability at the position. Gabriel, who went 1-5 in his six starts, threw seven touchdowns against two interceptions but averaged just 5.1 yards per attempt in a conservative scheme behind an injured offensive line.
Sanders saw his first NFL action in relief against the Ravens, where he completed just 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards, including one interception, for a 13.5 passer rating. It was his initial work with the Browns' first-team offense, having not taken No. 1 reps in preseason or prior practices. Stefanski emphasized building Sanders' confidence: "I think you're always trying to do that with all your players to make sure that they are comfortable, and it's no different with Shedeur in there... he's working very hard."
The Browns, sitting at 2-9 after a 2-8 start, face the Raiders on the road in Las Vegas. Sanders aims to prove doubters wrong after sliding to the fifth round, despite high expectations from his college career.