Shedeur Sanders is not set to begin the season as the Cleveland Browns‘ starting quarterback, with 40-year-old Joe Flacco being named to that role. The team, which has one of the lowest projected win totals in the AFC, is still searching for a long-term answer at quarterback.
Historically, only six quarterbacks over age 40 have started double-digit games in a National Football League season, including Warren Moon. Given Cleveland’s tough opening schedule against several teams with winning records from last year, Flacco’s tenure as starter may be brief.
Sanders made an impression in his first preseason game, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He missed Week 2 of the preseason due to an oblique injury but is expected to play in the final preseason game. Sanders commented on his situation Thursday: “My time, whenever it is, I’ll be ready for it and embrace that,” he said. “In due time, I’ve got many things I need to fix. I’m not oblivious to that. All I look at it is, I’m getting more time to cook.”
Head coach Kevin Stefanski has not yet determined who will back up Flacco among Sanders, Kenny Pickett (who is recovering from a hamstring injury), and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. Sanders remains listed as fourth-string on the team’s unofficial depth chart and still needs to secure a spot on the final roster.
Longtime NFL offensive coach Norm Chow outlined some of the challenges facing young quarterbacks like Sanders: “It’s such a jump from college to pro football in my mind,” said Chow. “The speed of the game. The complexity of the game, with the defenses and all that stuff. I think the guys that are fortunate enough to sit on a bench for a year are the guys who are ultimately going to be the most successful.”
Matt Hasselbeck was selected in the sixth round of his draft class but did not start until his third season; he believes Sanders could see earlier opportunities: “He took advantage of the opportunity and showed that, ‘Hey, I’m a guy who has potential (…) I’m a guy you can develop and could be the quarterback of the future here. Believe in me and give me a chance.’ And I think he’s earned that chance.” Hasselbeck told FS1‘s “The Herd.”
If current projections hold and Cleveland struggles through its initial eight games before their Week 9 bye week, Sanders could potentially become starter after midseason with nine regular-season games remaining—a crucial window for proving himself as part of Cleveland’s future plans.
The team’s outlook includes games against difficult opponents such as New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens right after their bye week and matchups versus teams like Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco 49ers later in the season. How soon Sanders earns his first start may depend both on team performance early in 2025 and on how quickly he develops during practice.
Cleveland holds two first-round selections in next year’s National Football League Draft should they seek further options at quarterback depending on this season’s outcome.
