Shedeur Sanders Breaks Down How He Runs Browns' Scout Team, 'That's My Game Day'

Shedeur Sanders provided some insight this week into the preparation and work he puts in during an NFL game week.

As the Cleveland Browns' third-string quarterback, Sanders runs the scout team, and he explained the role to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi, saying: "It's concepts. Anytime you're throwing the ball, there's only so many ways you can get to different spots. I just enjoy it, and like I say, that's my game day. It's my game day."

The rookie fifth-round pick has been the Browns' No. 3 quarterback since the start of the season, and that will be the case once again this week despite the fact that rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel is in line to get his first career start against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

Sanders will remain in the third-string role with veteran Joe Flacco going from starter to backup.

Given that he started collegiately at FCS Jackson State and Colorado, Oyefusi noted that Sanders has not run the scout team offense since the COVID-shortened 2021 season when he was an early enrollee at Jackson State.

Every rep is valuable for Sanders at the NFL level, though, especially since it could determine his future with the Browns and in the NFL as a whole.

After being named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year last season and finishing eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting, it was widely expected that Sanders would be the first or second quarterback off the board in the 2025 NFL draft.

Miami's Cam Ward went first overall to the Tennessee Titans, which wasn't particularly surprising, but the fall Sanders experienced undoubtedly was.

Sanders fell all the way to Day 3, and he was the sixth quarterback off the board behind Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe and Gabriel.

There was no guarantee Sanders would even make the Browns' roster, as he was part of a four-way quarterback battle during training camp, but his spot was solidified when Cleveland traded Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Although he is on the roster, Sanders is seemingly still far from seeing game action, as he remains behind Gabriel and Flacco on the depth chart.

However, Oyefusi pointed out that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said it is "absolutely" important to see both Gabriel and Sanders play meaningful games this season before making a decision on whether to take a quarterback early in the 2026 NFL draft.

That suggests that unless Gabriel hits the ground running and establishes himself as the franchise guy, Sanders' opportunity could come at some point.