Shedeur Sanders set to start against Raiders: Inside the Browns’ stunning quarterback collapse

The Cleveland Browns are poised to announce Shedeur Sanders as the team’s starting quarterback for the Week 12 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Sanders, a fifth-round pick at the 2025 NFL Draft, began the season as the team’s fourth-choice quarterback. However a series of events has left the Browns with no other option.

The 23-year-old got his first taste of NFL action against the Baltimore Ravens last weekend. Starting QB Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion and Sanders entered the game to make his NFL debut.

On Monday it was widely reported that Shedeur Sanders will start against the Raiders next Sunday. Sanders’ first professional outing did not go to plan, as he went four from 16 and passed for 47 yards and one interception. He did not make a single score during his time on the field, playing the entire second half.

What happened to the Cleveland quarterbacks?

The quarterback situation in Cleveland is a puzzling one, considering that they recently appeared to have too many options. Over the summer the Browns had Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett competing for the starter’s jersey, with Gabriel and Sanders expected to play back-up.

However Pickett was dealt before the start of the season and Flacco was sent to the Bengals in a mid-season trade. Gabriel has been the starter since Flacco’s departure but now Sanders has a clear run.

Browns coach Kevin Stanski has emphasized that Gabriel will be reinstated as the starter as soon as he has cleared the concussion protocol. But it’s not clear exactly how long that could take and Sanders will get at least one more week to stake his claim for a starting spot.

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