Shedeur Sanders Responds to Critics After First Start for Browns

Cleveland Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders officially has his first win as a starting quarterback, and he’s using the occasion to clap back at his haters.

After Cleveland defeated the Las Vegas Raiders, 24-10, on the road on Sunday, November 23, Sanders, 23, told reporters that he knew fans weren’t looking for excuses as he stepped into usual starter Dillon Gabriel’s shoes.

“Nobody cares if this was one week of prep,” he said. “Who cares? So, a lot of people want to see me fail – it ain’t gonna happen. It ain’t gonna happen.”

Sanders’ numbers weren’t overwhelming, as he completed just 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards with a touchdown and an interception. But it was enough for him to become the first Browns rookie quarterback to win his first start since 1995.

“Everybody starts different places,” Sanders said. “Like I said, just because I didn’t get the summer reps just because I wasn’t in the best situation for me to be prepared to go out there and execute from a summer standpoint – that’s how life is. Everybody’s not in the best situation. But it’s no excuse. Gotta go out there and perform. There’s no choice. There’s no question.”

Meanwhile Gabriel, 24, is still in concussion protocol and returned to practice two days before the game.

It’s possible that Gabriel will be cleared to play when the Browns take the field again on Sunday, November 30 against the San Francisco 49ers, but head coach Kevin Stefanski would not commit to a starting quarterback.

“I’m not going to get into that,” he told reporters after the game. “Obviously proud of [Sanders]. I’m proud of this offense, and there are a ton of things to learn from. But I’m going to worry about today.”

Stefanski, 43, continued, “I think you saw a lot of what Shedeur does well on the field today. I thought to make that [completion to Isaiah Bond] off-schedule when we were out manned [in] the protection, get the ball down the field. So, there’s a lot that he’s doing well, and there’s a lot that he’s working on, which is what I appreciate about young guys that want to get better.”

Sanders told CBS Sports before the game that he saw the start as an opportunity to prove he is “who [the Browns have] been looking for.”

“I’m just thankful to be out here, have an opportunity, be able to go out there and play, go out there and start,” he said. “You don’t know how surreal that feeling is, knowing that you have the responsibility of the Browns organization on your shoulders, having all the fans, everybody in here arguing with each other online and everything.”

“Everybody has their differences about me,” he added. “It is what it is, but I’m just thankful I’m here before you all today, and hopefully we cleared a little stuff up. But a real long way to go. It’s allowing me to grow, and I know it’s only one way and the only way is up.”