Shedeur Sanders frustrated after Browns bench him in preseason win

Shedeur Sanders was visibly frustrated on the Cleveland Browns’ sideline on Saturday night, and he confirmed why that was the case. 

The Browns won the game, 19-17, but it was Tyler Huntley who led a game-winning field goal drive to come away with the preseason victory. Huntley was cut from the Browns’ roster since then despite his efforts. 

Meanwhile, Sanders didn’t have the greatest showing in his first game in front of the Browns faithful. He was sacked five times and struggled to get into a rhythm with Cleveland’s offense. 

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles during the game at Lincoln Financial Field on Aug. 16, 2025. (Kyle Ross/Imagn Images)

But Sanders confirmed that he told head coach Kevin Stefanski he wished to be the one to go out there and lead the Browns to the walk-off field goal. Stefanski said no, going with Huntley instead and the veteran quarterback got the job done. 

“In the battle of the moment, in the heat of the battle, you want to be that alpha,” Sanders said, via Cleveland.com. “You want to be that dog. You want to be out there in that final two-minute drive. So, of course, small things, of course frustrated, but that’s what happens when you want to be a player to be able to change a franchise.”

BROWNS’ SHEDEUR SANDERS CONFIDENT HE’LL MAKE FINAL ROSTER DESPITE STRUGGLES VS RAMS

Sanders took over the game in the second half, and he was on the exercise bike staying warm when he realized he wasn’t going back into the game. 

“I didn’t know I was out,” Sanders said before that Huntley drive. “I was powering up for that two-minute drive because that’s just a situation every quarterback dreams for. That’s many situations I’ve been in before and I thought I was in, so then he told me I wasn’t in and I was like, ‘OK.’”

Stefanski defended his decision to go with Huntley, who was the only quarterback to play in all three preseason games with the Browns. He was brought in after Kenny Pickett and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel – Sanders went two rounds after him back in April – both suffered hamstring injuries earlier in camp. 

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) takes the field in the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. (Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)

“Obviously, we didn’t play great as an offense in the second half,” Stefanski said to Cleveland.com. “That’s never on one person. So, we can be better in a bunch of areas and just felt like we wanted to give Snoop a last drive. 

“[Sanders] is a competitive kid. The plan was to go with Snoop there. But, I wouldn’t make any more of it than that.”

There are some football fans out there who believe Sanders is being sabotaged by the Browns, but Stefanski nipped that right in the bud. 

“I don’t concern myself with outside type of things, but I’m committed to his development like all of our rookies,” he said. 

The Browns have already named 41-year-old veteran Joe Flacco their quarterback for Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals, a crucial AFC North divisional matchup to kick off the season. Who exactly will be his backup remains to be seen, but Pickett is expected to be back for the Browns sooner than expected. Stefanski said he expects him back by Week 1. 

Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns walks off the field after the team’s 17-16 win over the Los Angeles Rams in an NFL Preseason 2025 game at Huntington Bank Field on August 23, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio.  (Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

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Stefanski hasn’t named a backup to Flacco, but ESPN reported that the Browns have been “planning to keep its four other QBs … on its 53-man roster.” The fourth is Deshaun Watson, who is on injured reserve due to a torn Achilles. 

Every NFL team will have to submit their 53-man rosters by Tuesday 4 p.m. ET, so Browns fans and the rest of the football world will know what Cleveland intends to do with Sanders and their quarterbacks by then.  

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