Shedeur Sanders to Be Browns' QB1 vs. Eagles if Gabriel, Pickett Sit With Injuries

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated Wednesday that rookie fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders could potentially draw his second consecutive preseason start at quarterback this weekend.

According to NFL.com, Stefanski said Sanders will start Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles if rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel misses a second straight preseason contest with a hamstring injury.

However, Sanders' status was later thrown into question as he missed Wednesday's session with an oblique injury, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

Both Gabriel and Kenny Pickett missed the Browns' preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers with hamstring ailments. Stefanski also held out 40-year-old veteran Joe Flacco, who is listed as the team's starter on their depth chart, which paved the way for Sanders to start against Carolina.

Stefanski suggested that Gabriel and Pickett are progressing, saying Gabriel will participate in 11-on-11 drills during Wednesday's joint practice with the Eagles and Pickett will take part in 7-on-7 drills on Wednesday.

In the Browns' 30-10 win over the Panthers, Sanders acquitted himself well, going 14-of-23 for 138 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, while also rushing for 19 yards on four carries.

Sanders largely limited mistakes, and he threw a pair of touchdown passes to Kaden Davis in the second quarter of the convincing victory.

Despite being viewed as a potential first-round pick by draft experts entering the 2025 NFL draft, Sanders dropped all the way to Cleveland at No. 144 overall in the fifth round.

Sanders was the second quarterback taken by the Browns during the draft, as they previously selected Gabriel 94th overall in the third round.

Over six collegiate seasons at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon, Gabriel set the all-time FBS record for career touchdown passes with 155. His final season at Oregon was arguably the best of his career, as he completed 72.9 percent of his passes for 3,857 yards, 30 touchdowns and six interceptions, and rushed for another seven scores.

Gabriel finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting as a result, and he was named the Big Ten MVP and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.

Sanders' final season at Colorado was just as good or even better statistically, as he completed 74.0 percent of his passing attempts for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 picks.

He won Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors, finished eighth in the Heisman voting and played a big role in his Colorado teammate, Travis Hunter, winning the Heisman.

Despite the draft capital invested in Gabriel and Sanders, they were both listed under the third string column as part of the Browns' latest depth chart release with Flacco as the starter and Pickett as the backup.

That suggests Stefanski may favor beginning the season with some experience under center, but it may be tough to ignore Sanders' starting candidacy if he has another strong showing against the Eagles.

Should Gabriel be deemed healthy enough to play in that game as well, it could go a long way toward determining which rookie quarterback will get the first opportunity to play for the Browns at some point during the regular season.