Shedeur Sanders, the rookie quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, participated minimally in Wednesday’s joint practice against the Philadelphia Eagles, and the situation has now been clarified.
After practice, the Browns confirmed that Sanders had sustained an oblique injury early in the session, which sidelined him for the remainder of the day. This setback comes amid an otherwise encouraging preseason for the rookie.
Sanders delivered an impressive performance in the team’s exhibition opener, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 19 yards. He orchestrated three scoring drives, showcasing his composure and development as he attempts to ascend the depth chart.
However, despite this solid showing, Sanders faces an uphill battle to secure the starting role when the season kicks off. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned earlier on Wednesday that fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel might get the start against the Eagles this weekend, contingent on recovering from a hamstring injury. Gabriel’s status is still in limbo, much like Kenny Pickett, who is also dealing with a hamstring issue.
In contrast, the 40-year-old veteran Joe Flacco has proven to be the healthiest option among the Browns’ quarterbacks during camp. Adding to their quarterback depth, the team recently signed Tyler Huntley amidst the growing injury concerns.
Meanwhile, the injury-plagued Deshaun Watson continues to be a concern, leading many Browns supporters to hope for a clean slate for the franchise going forward.
While the Browns have not provided a specific timeline for Sanders’ recovery, he has already faced arm soreness earlier in the training camp. With three quarterbacks currently nursing injuries, this latest setback has put the organization on high alert.
