NFL Insider Explains Why Shedeur Sanders Has 'No More Excuses' Ahead of Raiders Game

Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is set to make his first career NFL regular-season start on Sunday, and the pressure is on for him to deliver.

Speaking to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, an NFL source said "there are no more excuses" when it comes to the Cleveland Browns signal-caller's on-field performance.

Sanders entered last week's loss to the Baltimore Ravens in a difficult spot since starter Dillon Gabriel exited with a concussion, but when it comes to Sunday's road game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sanders will have a full week of practice with the first-team offense under his belt.

A fifth-round pick out of Colorado, Sanders got his first taste of regular-season game action last week when he took over after halftime due to Gabriel getting ruled out with a concussion.

The Browns were leading 16-10 when Sanders entered the game, but they didn't score any points in the second half, and Baltimore came back to win 23-16.

It was an ugly showing for Sanders, who completed just four of his 16 passing attempts for 47 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

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While some may have given Sanders a pass due to a lack of starter reps in practice throughout the season, that won't be a factor on Sunday, and a second source told Jones, "If it's gonna work this season, this is the week for it."

Per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Sanders has impressed some people within the Browns organization with his preparation this week.

Sources told Russini that there is "a calm about Sanders that sticks out," while an anonymous Browns player said Sanders is "treating this start like a final exam he can't fail."

When Sanders arrived in Cleveland, he was the No. 4 quarterback on the depth chart, but the trades of Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco moved him up, and Gabriel's injury has secured him a start.

Sunday's start is important for multiple reasons, as it could earn Sanders the chance to make additional starts this season, and if he performs well enough, it could potentially compel the Browns to give him a shot as the starter next season.

At 2-8, the Browns' 2025 season is essentially already over as it relates to meaningful games in the standings, so the rest of the campaign is all about evaluating for 2026.

The Browns are a strong candidate to take a franchise quarterback early in the 2026 NFL draft, but if Sanders shows long-term starting potential down the stretch, perhaps there is a chance Cleveland opts to address other positions of need instead.