Shedeur Sanders Faces Setback with Injury Ahead of Preseason Game

Shedeur Sanders, the rookie quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, is facing an unexpected challenge after suffering an oblique injury during Wednesday’s joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles. The injury has sidelined the 23-year-old quarterback, who was gaining momentum following a strong preseason debut. According to Kelsey Russo of the team website, Sanders will not participate in practice on Thursday and is currently listed as day-to-day, making him unlikely to play in the upcoming preseason game on August 13, 2025.

Impact on Quarterback Competition

Before the injury update, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel would start against the Eagles, provided he is healthy. Gabriel, selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, missed the team’s preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers due to a hamstring issue. Stefanski had indicated that Sanders would receive additional practice reps this week after performing well in his debut.

In that game against the Panthers, Sanders completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and threw two touchdown passes in a convincing 30-10 victory. His absence in the upcoming game against Philadelphia could stall this positive momentum. Importantly, it may hinder his chances of moving up the depth chart in a competitive quarterback race that includes Gabriel, Kenny Pickett, and Joe Flacco.

Currently, Sanders is positioned as the fourth quarterback on the Browns’ unofficial depth chart. Despite concerns about Gabriel’s size—standing at 5 feet 11 inches and weighing 205 pounds—the coaching staff appears to favor him, citing his impressive processing speed as a key advantage. Gabriel has also received first-team reps during organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp, which Sanders did not.

Looking Ahead to the Season

Should Gabriel perform well against the Eagles, it will further solidify the coaching staff’s confidence in him. Neither Sanders nor Gabriel is expected to be the starting quarterback for the Browns in Week 1; that role is likely to go to Flacco, who led the team to a playoff appearance in 2023 with a record of 4-1 in the final stretch of the season.

Despite the setback, a strong performance from Sanders in future practices could pave the way for his eventual promotion, potentially positioning him as a successor to the 40-year-old Flacco. With the injury sidelining him temporarily, Sanders will need to focus on recovery to maintain his place in the quarterback competition.