The Cleveland Browns walked away from their preseason finale with a win on the board, but for rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the night was anything but smooth. After a promising debut earlier in the preseason, Sanders struggled to find rhythm against the Los Angeles Rams. Yet amid the challenges, he found a valuable source of support from a veteran teammate who has walked the same path.
A difficult night on the field
Sanders’ performance against the Rams was far from what he and Browns fans had hoped to see. The undrafted rookie completed only three of six pass attempts for 14 yards, while being sacked five times before being pulled late in the fourth quarter. The showing cast doubt on his immediate prospects of securing a spot on the Browns’ 53-man roster.
After impressing in his first preseason outing against the Carolina Panthers, Shedeur Sanders’ inability to adapt to defensive pressure highlighted the steep learning curve of transitioning to the NFL. For the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, the scrutiny has been even more intense, with every snap analyzed under the spotlight.
Flacco’s veteran perspective
Despite the rocky outing, Shedeur Sanders received encouragement from veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who was recently named the Browns’ starter. Drawing from his 17 years of NFL experience, Flacco reminded the rookie that early setbacks are part of every quarterback’s journey.
“Yeah dude, I remember. Yeah big time. I can remember just like yesterday. I mean that's part of being a rookie, you know. You're gonna get thrown into situations that maybe you don't think are ideal. I got thrown into a game against New England with two minutes left. I fumbled on the one yard line and they scored two plays later and that was John Harbaugh's first preseason game and he was not happy.
I wasn't happy either but hey, so it's part of the game. It's part of what makes [a] football player, is learning how to deal with those situations and learn from them. So yeah, listen, we've all been there, it's part of the game.”
Joe Flacco’s words served as both reassurance and a reminder that growth comes from adversity. His anecdote illustrated how even seasoned veterans have faced low points, only to use them as building blocks for success.
What comes next for Shedeur Sanders
The Browns now face a decision regarding Sanders’ future. With veteran depth already on the roster, the team must weigh whether to keep the young quarterback as a developmental project on the 53-man roster or move him to the practice squad.
For Shedeur Sanders, the journey has only just begun. His flashes of poise in his debut showed promise, but consistency will be key to carving out a long-term role in Cleveland. And with the guidance of experienced leaders like Joe Flacco, Sanders may yet find the resilience needed to turn early struggles into a foundation for growth.