Shedeur Sanders to Start His First NFL Game

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is gearing up for his first career NFL start this Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. During a press conference on Wednesday, head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Sanders would take the field in place of Dillon Gabriel, who remains in concussion protocol but is reportedly improving.

Sanders recently made his NFL debut in a 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, where things didn’t go as planned. He completed just 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards, failed to score a touchdown, and threw one interception, while also being sacked twice. Reflecting on his performance, Sanders stated, “I don’t think I played good at all. There are a lot of things we need to look at during the week and get comfortable.”

Despite the rough outing against a tough Ravens squad that’s gained momentum in the playoff race, Sanders is optimistic heading into the matchup against the Raiders. He noted the lack of time spent with the first-team offense had impacted his readiness, emphasizing the need to build synergy with his wide receivers like Jerry Jeudy.

With the Raiders currently struggling at 2-8 and ranking 24th in the league in points allowed per game, the matchup appears more favorable for Sanders and the Browns. This game offers Sanders a critical opportunity to showcase his abilities and potentially influence the team's direction heading into the offseason and the 2026 NFL Draft.