While talking to the media on Thursday, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders spoke on his current mindset while not playing and let it be known he is ready for action if he is called upon.
Shedeur Sanders feels ready to play right now
Shedeur Sanders has been playing the background in Cleveland since the regular season has started. Sanders, right now, is the third quarterback on the depth chart, which means he doesn’t get much practice time and has been relegated to mostly running the scout team as the Browns prepare for their upcoming opponents. Sanders called the opportunity to run the scout team his “gamedays” since he likely won’t see time on Sundays due to being the emergency third backup quarterback. His outlook right now has been to remain focused.
“My mindset is just staying locked in and remaining focused on the main thing,” Sanders told ESPN Cleveland. “I don’t think playing or not playing is in my hands. Based on the situation, if it’s time for me to be ready to play, I’ll be ready to play. Shoot, I’m ready to play right now.”
Despite not seeing many opportunities, Sanders remains confident that he can step onto the field and play at an even level or a higher level than most of the starting quarterbacks have this season.
“If you see the quarterback play in the league right now, I know I’m capable of doing better than that,” Sanders said.
“I know if you see the quarterback play in the league right now, I know I’m capable of doing better than that,” – Shedeur Sanders.
FULL INTERVIEW: https://t.co/dbXReTKaDq https://t.co/7XlBTbw2D6 pic.twitter.com/YHIMd11Txd
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) September 25, 2025
Sanders’ father, Deion Sanders, recently made headlines with his thoughts on Shedeur, stating that he believes Shedeur will get his opportunity at some point to play this season. A report also came out stating that the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles reached out to Shedeur, wanting to draft him, but turned down the opportunity due to not having a pathway to start. If he had been drafted by both of those teams, it would have been clear that he would have sat behind Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts for however long those quarterbacks wanted to stay with their teams.
Sanders was drafted by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2025 draft back in April. He was touted as a first-round prospect and was the talk of the draft because he fell completely out of the first round, being passed up by NFL teams multiple times, before Cleveland traded up into the fifth round to draft him. In the third round of the 2025 draft, Cleveland drafted Dillion Gabriel, with both guys competing in training camp for the backup quarterback spot behind Joe Flacco.
The preseason was an up-and-down experience for Sanders. He played in two of the three preseason games, starting in one of them. In his first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, Sanders impressed, passing for 138 yards and two touchdowns. However, in his final playing time against the LA Rams, he took five sacks with Gabriel taking the reins of the number two quarterback spot of the preseason that he had.
With the Browns 0-3 right now, it is fair to question how long Flacco will remain the starter; however, it is no guarantee Sanders will even get his shot. Cleveland could decide to roll with Gabriel for an extended period of time.
Main Image: © Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
