News - Browns Coach Keeps Quiet on Shedeur Sanders’ Future

After a lopsided 32-13 defeat to the New England Patriots in Week 8, Cleveland Browns fans intensified their pleas for rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders to take the reins. Yet a candid update from head coach Kevin Stefanski on Monday poured cold water on any immediate hopes of the first-year signal-caller stepping into the spotlight. Incumbent starter Dillon Gabriel once again failed to ignite the Browns’ attack, managing a meager 156 passing yards and tossing a pair of picks in the blowout loss. Now mired in a 2-6 record and saddled with the NFL’s second-least productive offense in yards per contest, Cleveland faces mounting pressure to shake up its quarterback room. Inserting Sanders, at minimum, would offer a glimpse of his potential and perhaps inject fresh energy into a stagnant unit. The franchise, however, has no plans to pivot. Following their Week 9 bye, the Browns will roll with Gabriel against the New York Jets in Week 10—a stance Stefanski doubled down on during his media availability. Pressed by longtime Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot on why Sanders has yet to be named the starter, Stefanski delivered a terse reply, insisting the rookie’s promotion is off his radar. Stefanski said his focus is on where the team stands now, not on promoting the rookie. Stefanski’s priority remains fielding the lineup he believes maximizes weekly victory odds through scheme and execution, rather than auditioning a newcomer for developmental reps. Critics, though, can point to Gabriel’s underwhelming body of work as evidence that the status quo hardly guarantees success. A reversal from Stefanski could still materialize, granting Sanders the stage that a vocal segment of the fan base craves. For now, the coach’s steadfast commitment to Gabriel signals deep hesitation about any quarterback switch, further clouding the rookie’s prospects of earning a starting nod before season’s end.