Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is under intense scrutiny as he aims to secure his position for next season. In a recent matchup, the Browns suffered a narrow 23-20 defeat against the Buffalo Bills, marking their 12th loss of the season. Despite the team’s struggles, Bills head coach Sean McDermott expressed admiration for Sanders’ performance.
During his post-game comments, McDermott highlighted the Bills’ ability to force turnovers, noting Sanders’ statistics: he completed 20 of 29 passes for 157 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Sanders also rushed for 49 yards but faced pressure resulting in two sacks, ending the game with a quarterback rating of 26.3.
Prominent sports commentators, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, reacted to Sanders’ performance on social media, questioning some of his decisions. Sharpe referenced one of the interceptions with a tweet during the game, reflecting the bewilderment among fans and analysts.
Locally, some Cleveland media are directing criticism towards the coaching staff, arguing that it hampers Sanders’ growth. ESPN Cleveland host Tony Rizzo voiced that Sanders’ potential cannot be fully assessed due to what he perceives as ineffective coaching. Head coach Kevin Stefanski’s position is increasingly precarious as the Browns’ offense struggles, currently ranked 31st in the league, averaging merely 16.4 points per game.
Throughout his six appearances, including five starts, Sanders has posted a low passer rating, ranking 40th in the ESPN ratings. However, it is essential to contextualize his performance; he did not get to practice with the first-team offense until Week 12.
With only two games remaining in the season, Sanders faces a critical opportunity to prove himself worthy of the starting role as the Browns prepare to face their rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The coming weeks will be pivotal for Sanders and the future direction of the Browns’ quarterback position as they evaluate whether they need to look for a new signal-caller in the 2026 NFL Draft.