Shedeur Sanders press conference: Browns QB reflects on experience in NFL debut

Teddy Ricketson

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Shedeur Sanders press conference: Browns QB reflects on experience in NFL debut image

The Cleveland Browns took on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11. The Browns had been rolling with starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel since Week 5. 

Gabriel got the start against the Ravens, but suffered a concussion and didn't come back into the game after halftime. This led to backup quarterback Shedeur Sanders making his NFL debut. Fans had been clamoring for Sanders to enter the game, and they got what they asked for. 

What they witnessed was the Ravens come back into the game and take the 23-16 win. Sanders was forced into the game, so he gets a little bit of leeway, but overall, he showed many of the concerns that critics had about him. He struggled with his accuracy and took more sacks in the second half than Gabriel did in the first. Sanders also had an interception, and didn't lead Cleveland to any points once he entered the game. 

The rookie quarterback had a chance to lead a game-winning drive, but it ended with a turnover on downs before Baltimore was able to then kneel out the remainder of the clock. 

Here is more on what Sanders had to say about his NFL debut in Week 11 vs. The Ravens. 

MORE WEEK 11 NEWS:

Shedeur Sanders press conference

Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Gabriel is in concussion protocol. This could lead to Sanders getting a start next week. When asked about how he thought Sanders played, Stefanski said, "All players, we will look at it. He's going to battle, like he does. I'm sure there are things we can clean up, but those are things we will look at tomorrow."

Stefanski was asked if he thought the quarterback was rusty since Sanders doesn't get first-team reps. The head coach said, "We do so much work with the quarterback position and the entire team, not just those reps on the practice field. Those are tough reps when you have a young starter as well. There is so much that we do to supplement that."

Stefanski was asked if the whole playbook was available to Sanders, and he said, "Yes. Yes." He was asked if he thought that Sanders handled the pressure from Baltimore well, and said, "we didn't do a good enough job, period, as a team, certainly as an offense. We will make sure we get back to work."

He was asked if Sanders would have been better if they would have game planned to his strengths and given him more practice reps. Stefanski said, "I think that is true of every backup [quarterback]."

Stefanski did confirm that Sanders will start if Gabriel has to miss next week's game against the Las Vegas Raiders due to his concussion. About Sanders he said, "All of us are constantly improving, he will improve, like he has, every single day... There are plays he wants back, but he will keep working...Shedeur has made unbelievable strides in the meeting room, on the practice field. I know he wants to be better, and he will be better."

Sanders started his press conference by thanking God. He said that it is all you can ask for to get his feet wet. Sanders said he was truly excited. He knew that he was going into the game right at halftime, right before he was shown on the broadcast. Sanders was asked how he thought he played, "I don't think I played good. I don't think I played good at all. I think there's a lot of things we need to look at during the week and go and get comfortable even throwing routes with Jerry [Jeudy], throwing routes to all those guys. I think that was my first ball thrown to him all year."

Sanders was asked about playing next week, "the most I can ask for is the opportunity. They gave me an opportunity, I didn't do up to my expectations, enough to get us a win. I just gotta take that to the chin." He was asked if he had any rust, "I think you've seen it was rough overall, a rough day overall. The thing I was excited about was to be able to get out there. It was the first time I got hit since my last game at Colorado."

"I feel fulfilled overall when it comes to being out there practicing, going between the lines, seeing what it's like. I know I'm made for it. I don't think there was a doubt in my mind, the final drive was going to go down there and score. Things happened, and we didn't. But, I was just excited because I knew what I was going to be able to do out there. Going out there in a live game. The way the guys, the o-line, running back, receivers, defense all rallied around, that's all you can ask for a quarterback."

Sanders was asked about his interception and in part said, "I think every throw is going to be complete until it's not." The media asked Sanders about his lack of reps, he said, "Playing quarterback is really hard. I like knowing everything about my receivers, the small things, what they are good at, what they're not good at. It's so many details that help me play confidently with those guys." 

Sanders was asked about what the most difficult part of facing the Ravens was. He said, "I'm going to give them their props, that's a good football team. But, I know the only way is up. For sure."

Sanders was asked what he did right. He said, "losing isn't something I am comfortable with, at all. So, I just gotta take this one, I gotta decompress, I gotta understand that this really happened on my watch. I don't like the feeling. I know I can take things to a different level. I just gotta take this one and build on it."

Sanders was asked about the fan support mainly in regards to the fans supporting him over Gabriel. "I'm a good person overall. I don't like him not feeling comfortable, confident when he gets out there. It puts everything in a tough spot, and it's not helping the team. It could be taken as I'm a distraction, even though I'm not doing nothing. I'm thankful for the supporters and those who believe. I definitely felt them, I'm truly thankful for it. Thankful to see all those 12 jerseys."

MORE WEEK 11 NEWS:

Shedeur Sanders debut stats

  • 16 passing attempts
  • 4 completions
  • 47 yards
  • 0 passing TDs
  • 1 interception
  • 2 sacks
  • 13.5 QBR
  • 3 carries
  • 16 yards
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