The Cleveland Browns kick off their 2025 season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon. Cleveland will look to rebound from its 3-14 season last year.
A big part of that rebound will come at the quarterback position. The Browns added intrigue this offseason by drafting two quarterbacks, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. They also signed veteran Joe Flacco to a one-year deal.
Last month, Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski named Flacco the Browns' Week 1 starter. Here's what that means for Sanders and the team's quarterback depth chart behind him.
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Why is Shedeur Sanders not starting for the Browns?
Cleveland's quarterback competition was expected to be open between Flacco, Sanders, and Gabriel in training camp and the preseason.
At one point, it appeared Sanders had a real shot at winning the job. He started Cleveland's first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8, finishing 14-of-23 passing for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 19 yards on four carries.
But when Stefanski was asked about Sanders taking first-team reps the following week during joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles, the head coach downplayed the idea that the job was Sanders' after just one game.
"We need to get through the next couple days from an injury standpoint and see where everybody is," Stefanski told Sports Illustrated. "I’m really focused on all our quarterbacks' development and every single one of [the] reps."
Unfortunately for Sanders, he suffered an oblique strain during those practices with Philadelphia. The injury limited throughout the rest of training camp. Cleveland defeated the Eagles 22-23 in their second preseason game. Although Flacco didn't take any reps this preseason, Stefanski named him as Cleveland's Week 1 starter on Aug. 18.
“The last couple of weeks, honestly, it’s been pretty good for me,” Flacco said of his training camp in Cleveland. “I’ve gotten to get more reps and get comfortable and feel like I’m doing things at a pretty high level.”
Flacco, 40, brings a wealth of NFL quarterback experience. He started his career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 and led them to a Super Bowl victory in 2013, earning the game's MVP.
He has a 105-86 overall record as a starter and also spent time with the Broncos, Jets, and Colts last season. He helped lead Cleveland to a wild-card playoff berth in 2023, stepping in for the Browns midseason. His experience and command of the offense clearly played a role in winning him the job over Sanders.
Sanders got playing time in Cleveland's final preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers but struggled, completing just three passes for 14 yards. Gabriel and Flacco both threw touchdown passes. Stefanski even benched Sanders for Tyler Huntley in the game's final minutes. Huntley helped set up a game-winning field goal from Andre Szmyt as time expired.
To add insult to injury, Huntley was released by the Browns on Sunday.
"I don't concern myself with outside types of things, but I'm committed to his development, just like all of our rookies," Stefanski said of his decision via the Associated Press. "We'll continue to focus on getting our guys better, and that's what we'll stay committed to, and that's what's important to me."
Sanders said he felt it was "obvious" he belongs on Cleveland's roster ahead of the final 53-man cut . was optimistic about making it through final roster cuts at the end of his preseason with Cleveland.
"I think overall as a player, I feel like I've put in the work. I feel like everything I do, I try to do it to my best and that's all (I) can ask for, so … I feel like everybody feels like they should be on the team," Sanders said after Saturday's game. "And if you ask anybody on the team would they feel they belong, they belong in their own eyes. I feel like I do, but I'm my own player. I think about myself in high regard."
Three days after the game against Los Angeles, Cleveland released its final roster. It featured the three primary quarterbacks in Flacco, Sanders and Gabriel.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson, who the Browns signed to a $230 million fully guaranteed contract in 2022, was placed on the PUP roster. Earlier this year, Watson re-aggravated an achilles injury he suffered last season.
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Is Shedeur Sanders expected to play at all in Week 1?
Unless Flacco gets injured, it's unlikely that Sanders will see the field on Sunday. But as the Browns' No. 2 quarterback, he'll have to be ready in case Cleveland needs him.
Browns QB depth chart
Cleveland also previously had Kenny Pickett on its roster earlier this offseason, but the Browns traded him to the Las Vegas Raiders on Aug. 25.
| Position | QB |
| 1. | Joe Flacco |
| 2. | Shedeur Sanders |
| 3. | Dillon Gabriel |
| 4. | Deshaun Watson* |
*Placed on PUP list