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Can Shedeur Sanders Save His Starting Job In Cleveland As Browns QB Battle Enters Pivotal Week? - Gridiron Heroics

Grid Iron Heroics · Manhaz Muntaha · 2026-08-20T17:38:15+00:00 · nguồn gốc

Shedeur Sanders walked off the field in Chicago with more questions than answers. The Cleveland Browns quarterback completed just six of eleven passes for 79 yards and threw a costly interception in relief during a 34-10 preseason-opening loss to the Bears on August 15. Now, with the starting job still unclaimed, analysts are weighing in on what comes next for the second-year passer. Analysts Sound the Alarm on Shedeur Sanders’ Window The pressure intensified this week when analysts weighed in publicly on Sanders’ outlook. Appearing on FS1’s First Things First, former NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz addressed the Browns’ unsettled quarterback race directly. “I think this is it for him. He’s gotta prove the next couple weeks he can be the guy or won’t be starting in Cleveland,” Schwartz said flatly. Former NFL wide receiver Gregory Jennings echoed the concern, suggesting that Sanders may be running out of opportunities to prove himself. “It’s hard for me to believe that this is not his last chance,” Jennings said. The blunt assessments followed a difficult night against Chicago that even drew a public response from his mother. Still, Sanders has consistently said he wants to change the franchise’s quarterback history, which has frustrated Browns fans for two decades. With Saturday’s matchup against Buffalo now looming, the next stretch of practices and preseason snaps could go a long way toward settling the debate. Shedeur Sanders Gets One More Shot to Win the Browns’ Starting Job Sanders spent training camp locked in a genuine quarterback battle with Deshaun Watson, splitting first-team reps as coach Todd Monken withheld a decision. Watson got the first shot against Chicago, playing the entire opening half and completing 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards, though he lost a fumble on a sack and rarely tested the defense downfield. Sanders entered in the third quarter and showed flashes, hitting receiver Luke Floriea for a 35-yard gain that moved Cleveland deep into Bears territory. The drive stalled soon after, and Sanders threw an interception on a pass over the middle later in the quarter. Despite the mixed results, Monken is handing Sanders another opportunity. He will start Cleveland’s second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on August 22 at home, a decision the coach called only fair given how tight the race has looked through camp. Both quarterbacks split first-team reps during this week’s joint practice with Buffalo, extending a rotation that has defined the Browns’ offseason and only added to the scrutiny that has followed him all summer. For Sanders, the coming days offer a real chance to pull ahead before Cleveland opens its regular season on September 13 in Jacksonville. For now, Cleveland’s starting job remains open, with Sanders and Watson still fighting for QB1. Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills at home gives Sanders his next chance, while the Browns close out preseason against the New England Patriots before opening the regular season at Jacksonville.