Browns’ Quarterback Struggles: Calls for Shedeur Sanders to Step In
Cleveland’s NFL journey this season has been marked by disappointment and frustration as the team cycles through quarterbacks without finding consistent success. After trading Joe Flacco to the Bengals, the Browns turned to rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel as their starter beginning in Week 5. Unfortunately, Gabriel’s performance has mirrored the struggles of his predecessor, completing less than 60% of his passes for just 683 yards over four starts. His most recent outing resulted in a demoralizing 32-13 loss to the New England Patriots, leaving fans and commentators alike questioning the team’s direction under center.
With a disappointing 2-6 record and little optimism on the horizon, attention has turned to another option waiting in the wings: Shedeur Sanders. The Colorado alum experienced a dramatic fall in draft status, dropping from potential top-five overall pick to a much later selection, but now represents an intriguing alternative as the season appears increasingly lost. This situation prompted Cleveland radio host Ken Carman to voice what many fans are thinking, delivering an impassioned plea for the Browns to give Sanders a chance. “You got four blowouts in an NFL season. It’s not even Halloween, we have four blowouts in an NFL season… That’s insanity!” Carman exclaimed on his 92.3 The Fan show, capturing the mounting frustration within the Browns fan base.
Carman’s emotional appeal continued as he acknowledged the difficult reality facing Cleveland this season. While recognizing that some players in the locker room still care deeply about turning things around, he suggested the team might benefit from a fresh approach given their current trajectory. “Either the offense is inept or you’ve put yourself in a bad situation. Either way, you gotta be just moving on from all of it,” he stated, articulating the sentiment that with playoff hopes fading, experimenting with Sanders could provide at least some excitement for fans enduring another challenging season. His colorful plea – “If [Sanders’] back isn’t locked up and he doesn’t need a back-iotomy, just put him out there, for the love of Christ!” – reflects the raw emotion many Cleveland supporters feel as they watch their team struggle week after week.
The quarterback situation in Cleveland has been fluid throughout the season, with head coach Kevin Stefanski initially hesitating before confirming Sanders as Gabriel’s backup after the latter was named starter. This reluctance has only fueled speculation about the team’s confidence in their quarterback room and raised questions about why Sanders hasn’t received an opportunity despite the obvious offensive struggles. As a franchise that has historically struggled to find stability at the quarterback position, the Browns’ current predicament feels painfully familiar to a fan base that has endured decades of disappointment and false starts.
The timing of Cleveland’s bye week adds another layer of intrigue to the quarterback discussion. With extra time to evaluate their options before facing the Baltimore Ravens in their next game, the coaching staff has a natural opportunity to make a change if they choose to do so. A matchup against the division rival Ravens represents both a significant challenge and a chance to potentially spark something new with a quarterback switch. For Sanders, who has patiently waited for his opportunity while watching Gabriel struggle, this could be the moment he’s been preparing for since draft day.
As the Browns navigate this difficult season, the calls for Sanders to get his chance will likely grow louder if the team’s offensive woes continue. Whether the coaching staff will heed these pleas remains to be seen, but with little to lose at this point in a season that has already featured multiple blowout losses, giving Sanders an opportunity could provide valuable evaluation time and perhaps a spark of hope for fans looking toward the future. For a franchise that has spent decades searching for its quarterback of the future, finding out what they have in Sanders before the season ends might be the only silver lining in an otherwise disappointing campaign.
