Shedeur Sanders Explains Reaction to Sitting Out Browns' Final Drive vs. Rams

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders discussed his reaction after he was replaced by Tyler Huntley for the final drive of the team's 19-17 preseason victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday.

"When I walk, that's just me getting my mind right," Sanders explained, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "That's just me loading as you can say. In the loading phase in your mind, getting to that mental place to wherever you can handle everything. So that's when I walk away or like I'm on a bike or anything, I'm just getting my mind right, knowing what it's going to take to go out there and drive down the field."

The rookie signal-caller also confirmed that he asked Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski to go back into the game.

"I don't know," Sanders said, via Cabot. "I wasn't in there, so I don't know. He was in the middle of calling a play and I was unaware because I was getting ready mentally to get out there for that final two minute drive, I was visualizing it and then I was out. I'm like, 'oh, okay.'"

He didn't have any regrets about his reaction, though.

"No, in the heart of competition, that's what you ask for," Sanders said. "That's what you asked for within the game. If I could go back and do anything, I mean it's always everything in life if you had that chance, but we don't have the luxury to travel back in time. As a kid, I want to go back and do things differently.

"So overall, of course you wish you can, but in the battle of the moment, in the heat of the battle, you want to be that alpha. You want to be that dog. You want to be out there in that final two-minute drive. So of course, small things, of course frustrate, but that's what happens when you want to be a player to be able to change a franchise."

Huntley was ultimately able to lead Cleveland down the field before Andre Szmyt kicked a game-winning field goal from 37 yards out.

Joe Flacco started the contest for the Browns until Dillon Gabriel stepped in under center during the second quarter.

Gabriel remained at quarterback until halftime, as Sanders took over to open the third quarter. The 2025 fifth-round pick dealt with inconsistency, finishing 3-of-6 for 14 yards.

Sanders was also sacked five times for 41 yards.

After the game, Stefanski explained why he chose to insert Huntley on the final drive.

"Obviously, we didn't play great as an offense in the second half and that's not on one person, so we could be better in a bunch of areas," Stefanski told reporters. "I just felt like we wanted to get Snoop in on that drive."

It was a disappointing finish from Sanders, especially after he put together a promising performance in his preseason debut. He finished 14-of-23 for 138 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover during a 30-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8.

With Cleveland's 2025 preseason now in the rearview mirror, it could be a while before Sanders sees the field again.

While his spot on the Browns' 53-man roster doesn't seem to be in jeopardy, he was still listed as the No. 4 quarterback on their unofficial depth chart heading into the matchup with Los Angeles.

Sanders confirmed that he wanted an opportunity to possibly give Cleveland a win over the Rams on Saturday, but Huntley was still able to get the job done.