For Shedeur Sanders' next preseason effort, he may need to have a 100% completion percentage, throw for 400 yards, and six touchdowns. Maybe then he'll have a chance to move up to QB3 on the Cleveland Browns' depth chart.
For now, Sanders' status remains unchanged despite a sizzling performance in his preseason debut last Friday night in Carolina.
Sanders completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Browns to a blowout win over the Panthers. Sanders made several eye-opening throws, showing command of the offense. It built off what has been a strong showing in Training Camp for the former Colorado star QB.
Many figured that performance would lead to a bump for Sanders on the depth chart, but according to Adam Schefter, Sanders remains QB4:
On Cleveland’s second depth chart of the summer, here is how the Browns are listing their quarterbacks this week:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 11, 2025
🏈1. Joe Flacco
🏈2. Kenny Pickett
🏈3. Dillon Gabriel
🏈4. Shedeur Sanders
Will Shedeur Sanders get a fair shake in the Browns' QB competition?
It's become clear that the Browns' "4-way" QB battle was a farce from the word go. The real competition is between veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. For now, Flacco is getting virtually all the important first-team reps thanks to an injury to Pickett. Gabriel and Sanders are competing for a spot on the roster.
Sanders has seemingly outplayed Gabriel throughout Training Camp, and with Gabriel's recent injury, he did not play in Cleveland's preseason opener. For now, the Browns seem to be sticking with the order they came to camp with.
Gabriel was drafted two rounds ahead of Sanders, and because of that, he remains ahead on the depth chart. If it were strictly performance-based, Sanders would be no worse than QB2 right now. Pickett has barely played, and Gabriel is more unproven.
There's another big opportunity awaiting Sanders this week, though it remains to be seen whether more strong performances will mean anything to the Cleveland brass. On Wednesday and Thursday, the Browns will hold joint practices with the world champion Philadelphia Eagles. That will lead up to the second preseason game, where the Browns will battle the Eagles on Saturday afternoon.
While Cleveland has yet to announce which QB will start their second preseason game, Sanders is likely to have a big role once again.