Shedeur Sanders Named Browns' QB3, Will Dress for Games Behind Flacco, Gabriel

Shedeur Sanders will be in uniform for the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 of the regular season.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Thursday that Sanders will be listed as the third quarterback on the depth chart, behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel.

The move allows Sanders to dress for games in the event the Browns need to utilize the emergency third quarterback.

Stefanski named Flacco as the starter on Aug. 18, leaving Gabriel, Sanders and Kenny Pickett vying to be the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart.

Pickett didn't play in any of Cleveland's three preseason games due to a hamstring injury suffered early in training camp. He was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, five months after the Browns acquired him from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Gabriel was officially named QB2 for the Browns on Tuesday. He appeared in the final two preseason games after sitting out the opener due to a hamstring injury.

Sanders appeared in the Browns' first and third preseason games. The 23-year-old finished 17-of-29 for 152 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He was also sacked seven times, with five coming in Saturday's finale against the Los Angeles Rams.

The NFL adopted an emergency third quarterback rule starting with the 2023 season. It was inspired by the San Francisco 49ers' top two quarterbacks—Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson—both suffering significant injuries during the 2022 NFC Championship Game against the Eagles.

Per the NFL's official rule, teams may designate an emergency third quarterback prior to kickoff of their games. The emergency quarterback is only permitted to enter the game only if the top two quarterbacks are unable to play either due to injury or being ejected.

The Browns will open the regular season hosting the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field on Sept. 7.