Shedeur Sanders is used to being a starting quarterback. It's what he's done his whole life, including in college at Jackson State and then Colorado.
He won't do that to start his rookie NFL season, though. He's not even the direct backup with the Cleveland Browns to Joe Flacco, either. That role goes to Dillon Gabriel.
Sanders did get some good news on Thursday, though.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that Sanders will officially be Cleveland's third quarterback, which means he'll get to dress for games, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
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As QB3, Sanders isn't likely to see much action. But if he's in uniform on the sideline, you never know.
Besides, the Cleveland quarterback situation this season will likely be very fluid.
There's already been some moving parts. Kenny Pickett was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, and then the Browns signed Bailey Zappe to the practice squad.
Flacco, 40, will start in Week 1, but the likely-to-be-rebuilding Browns probably won't give him every start this season.
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At some point, Cleveland will need to see if Gabriel or even Sanders can potentially be a solution to the franchise's long-standing quarterback problem. It wouldn't be shocking for both rookie QBs to get starts this season.
Sanders still has a long way to go in his journey toward trying to be a starting NFL quarterback. But every little bit of positive news is a good thing.
Not only does it get Sanders that much closer to an opportunity, but it also shows the Browns do believe in his capabilities. And that's gotta count for something.
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