How Did Shedeur Sanders Prep for Historic Start? Latest Rumors Before Browns-Raiders

While he wasn't practicing regularly with the first team, Cleveland Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders has received extra practice reps all year that could prove beneficial as he approaches his first NFL start.

Sanders and other young players on the roster have participated in "Hungry Dawgs" sessions, which are additional reps after practice overseen by head coach Kevin Stefanski.

"One source described those reps as the most valuable part of practice for Sanders," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday. "Sanders then will have a private meeting with Stefanski to go over all his reps and critique them. Since backup QBs rarely get first-team reps in practice, these extra snaps are aimed at accelerating their trajectory."

Rapoport, citing sources, also reported "Sanders had a very good week of preparation for his first career start on Sunday, throwing it well in practice and preparing well. Among the alterations to Cleveland's game plan is an expectation for a few more deep shots from Sanders, whose ability to throw it downfield is one of his strengths. The plan for Sunday includes what Sanders likes and is comfortable with."

Ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders, Sanders began working with the first team. Dillon Gabriel's concussion in a 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens forced Stefanski's to make a QB change.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported Saturday that the first-year signal-caller "has done everything possible to prepare."

"He took all the first-team reps on the field with Cleveland's starters for the first time this week, and people inside the Browns building say there's been a calm about Sanders that sticks out," the NFL insider wrote. "Coaches and teammates have watched him roam the halls with his iPad under his arm, bouncing from meeting to meeting, stopping for extra one-on-one sessions with [Stefanski]. For a third-day pick who barely took reps earlier in the season, Sanders is, as one Browns player described it, 'treating this start like a final exam he can't fail.'"

Not surprisingly, Rapoport cautioned the Browns won't make any larger judgments about Sanders on the basis of what happens Sunday. They'll continue their evaluations as the rest of the season unfolds.

The 2025 fifth-round pick struggled mightily when coming on for Gabriel against Baltimore. He finished 4-of-16 for 47 yards, throwing an interception and losing a fumble on a sack.

▶️ Full Ravens-Browns Recap

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Sanders didn't have ideal circumstances for his first meaningful action on an NFL field. His inexperience showed and Stefanski looked justified for not elevating the former Colorado star earlier.

Now, the expectations will be higher.

Sanders doesn't need to light up the Raiders secondary in order for his first start to be deemed a success. Should a repeat of what happened against the Ravens unfold for the second successive week, however, it will become harder to argue he should maintain his QB1 status.