Following the Cleveland Browns’ preseason-opening win over the Carolina Panthers, many considered rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders to have a legitimate shot at beating out fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel for a spot behind Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett on the team’s depth chart.
The Colorado alum completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions, and opened the eyes to many around the league that he was, in fact, a serious contender to make the Browns’ roster.
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Then Gabriel threw for 143 yards and an interception in his debut the following week, and followed it up with 129 yards and a touchdown in Cleveland’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, seemingly giving him a leg up over Sanders, who was sacked five times and had just 14 yards passing on Saturday.
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While things remain pretty muddied outside of Flacco being named Cleveland’s starter, things got a little more clear for Browns fans on Sunday when the team released Pro Bowl QB Tyler Huntley, who completed 17 of 22 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown in three preseason appearances, seemingly locking the Browns into carrying four passers heading into Week 1, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“Browns are releasing quarterback Tyler Huntley, per source,” Schefter reported. “Cleveland has been planning to keep its other four QBs — Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders — on its 53-man roster.”
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With Huntley gone, all signs point to the Browns keeping four QBs on their roster heading into the regular season. It’s not known if Cleveland’s plan is to keep Sanders on the roster all season or hold onto him as a trade chip for other teams with a sudden need for a backup QB like the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, or New Orleans Saints.
Stefanski told reporters that Pickett should be available for the Browns’ Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, seemingly indicating that Sanders will be Cleveland’s No. 4 QB for that game.
The post Browns Make Major QB Decision That Affects Shedeur Sanders appeared first on Newsweek.
