TL;DR
- Robert Saleh praises Shedeur Sanders as a mobile, confident quarterback with a big arm.
- Sanders showed command and poise, improving weekly and ready for his first home start.
- The 49ers' pass defense is vulnerable, allowing high passing yards and touchdowns.
- Sanders' momentum and home-field advantage pose a challenge for the struggling 49ers defense.
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh isn't taking Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders lightly. When questioned about Sanders prior to Sunday's Week 13 game, Saleh began with a straightforward evaluation that also served as a caution.
“He’s a good young quarterback,” Saleh said. “He is mobile, he’s got a big arm, tremendous confidence. He made a couple of really, really good throws in the game against Vegas, extending plays getting out of the pocket, delivering the ball where it needed to be delivered.”
Saleh also pointed to Sanders’ poise. “Obviously showed good command of the huddle and at the line of scrimmage. You anticipate someone like him that has that confidence, who has that skillset, that he’s gonna get better and better every week.”
The Browns are banking on this exact progression as Sanders gets ready for his inaugural home start at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
49ers' Defensive Weaknesses in the Passing Game Increase Pressure
The 49ers are not arriving with an airtight pass defense. San Francisco is allowing 241.8 passing yards per game, the seventh-most in the NFL. The unit is also giving up 1.8 passing touchdowns per game, ranking in the bottom ten alongside the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints.
Opposing quarterbacks are completing 69.41 percent of their passes against San Francisco, the fourth-highest rate in the league. Those numbers paint a clear picture: the 49ers have struggled to disrupt timing routes, protect the deep thirds, and finish drives with stops.
Sanders' momentum gains significance within this context. Should he capitalize on his victory last week against the Las Vegas Raiders and receive robust backing from a Cleveland audience, the 49ers' defense might face a difficult day, given their inconsistent performance in coverage.
Sanders' Journey from Emergency Reserve to Promising First-String Player
Sanders' initial NFL journey has been rapid. He entered the league under tumultuous conditions, stepping in for Dillon Gabriel against the Baltimore Ravens after the experienced player sustained a concussion. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski acknowledged that Sanders hadn't practiced with the starting unit prior to that contest, a fact reflected in his performance: completing 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and throwing an interception.
Although the start was difficult, Cleveland quickly showed commitment to him. With Gabriel remaining in concussion protocol, Stefanski gave Sanders the starting role and, for the first time, an entire week to prepare. This fresh start made a difference.
The newcomer responded with a steady, energetic showing against a Raiders defense that had been heavily impacted by the Dallas Cowboys the previous week. Sanders connected on 11 of 20 throws for 209 yards, a single touchdown, and one interception, concluding with a 87.3 passer rating in his inaugural start.
Why It Matters in Week 13
Sanders is still progressing, but he heads into Sunday with significant momentum, a beneficial matchup, and the advantage of his first home game. For a 49ers defense that's already allowing high-efficiency passing, their room for error is reduced.
For Sanders, Week 13 presents a straightforward yet crucial opportunity to demonstrate that his performance last week was the start of a trend, not a one-off event.