Why isn't Shedeur Sanders starting? When Browns rookie QB could play Jacob Camenker, USA TODAYSeptember 21, 2025 at 5:03 AM 0 Why isn't Shedeur Sanders starting? When Browns rookie QB could play The Cleveland Browns have rolled with Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback over the first two weeks o...
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Jacob Camenker, USA TODAYSeptember 21, 2025 at 5:03 AM
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Why isn't Shedeur Sanders starting? When Browns rookie QB could play
The Cleveland Browns have rolled with Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback over the first two weeks of the 2025 NFL season. Could that change any time soon?
The Browns have, once again, gotten off to a slow start. They are sitting at 0-2 after two weeks and are coming off a non-competitive, 41-17 loss to Baltimore Ravens in NFL Week 2.
Flacco had his share of issues against the Ravens, completing 25 of 45 (55.6%) of his passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the rout. He was replaced late by third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel, who completed all three of his passes for 19 yards and a touchdown in limited action.
Flacco's struggles through two weeks have brought questions about whether Cleveland will re-open its quarterback competition, which was viewed as wide-open during the NFL offseason. If the Browns do that, Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders would be given a chance to throw their hats back into the ring and state their cases as potential replacements for the 40-year-old Flacco.
But where does Sanders currently fall in the pecking order? Here's what to know about his standing on the Browns quarterback depth chart and when – if at all – he could see the field in 2025.
makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
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Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
">Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
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1 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
Why isn't Shedeur Sanders starting?
While Sanders drew a lot of attention during the 2025 NFL offseason, he was always facing an uphill battle to become Cleveland's No. 1 quarterback.
Sanders was routinely listed as the No. 4 quarterback on Cleveland's depth chart after he was selected in the fifth round fo the 2025 NFL Draft. He was not only behind veterans Flacco and Kenny Pickett; he also found himself behind Gabriel, who was chosen 50 picks before him in the third round of the 2025 draft.
With that in mind, Sanders had a lot of ground to make up in the starting quarterback race. He was presented a key chance to insert himself into the competition in Week 1 of the preseason, when he started against the Carolina Panthers while Flacco, Pickett and Gabriel were all sidelined.
Sanders took advantage of his opportunity, looking poised and showing an ability to make tight-window completions. He played the bulk of the game and completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-10 Browns victory.
But Sanders was unable to build on that momentum as the preseason progresed. He suffered an oblique injury in practice and was held out of the team's Week 2 preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles because of it. He then struggled badly in Cleveland's final preseason game, completing 3 of 6 passes for 14 yards while being sacked five times for 41 yards.
That prevented Sanders from emerging as a true challenger for Flacco, and also kept him behind the higher-drafted Gabriel in the quarterback race.
Nonetheless, Sanders still managed to make Cleveland's 53-man roster. And when the dust settled following the team's decision to trade Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders, Sanders had earned the team's third-string quarterback job.
When could Shedeur Sanders play for Browns?
It's hard to know exactly when Sanders might play for the Browns, but he isn't imminently expected to see the field. He would need to climb two spots on Cleveland's depth chart to get extended action.
Could that eventually happen? Sure. The two quarterbacks ahead of him could struggle or suffer injuries that force Sanders into action.
But for now, Flacco figures to remain the team's starter. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski indicated the team wasn't planning to bench the 40-year-old when asked about the possibility following Cleveland's loss to Baltimore.
"No," Stefanski said when asked whether the team would bench Flacco for Gabriel. "I don't think we did good enough."
Even if Stefanski's tune eventually changes, Gabriel would likely get the first crack at replacing Flacco after the 24-year-old Oregon product beat Sanders for the backup job.
So, it may be a while before NFL fans see Sanders get NFL regular-season snaps – if they see him at all during his rookie season.
Browns QB depth chart
The Browns currently have five quarterbacks in their organization. Four are healthy and three are on the 53-man roster. Below is the pecking order among the healthy signal-callers:
Joe Flacco
Dillon Gabriel
Shedeur Sanders
Bailey Zappe (practice squad)
The Browns still have Deshaun Watson in their organization as well. However, he isn't expected to play during the 2025 NFL season after tearing his Achilles twice in a three-month span. As a result, he remains on Cleveland's physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When could Shedeur Sanders play for Browns? QB depth chart, explained
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