Shedeur Sanders Sparks Backlash Before Even Taking the Field

BEREA — Quarterback Deshaun Watson missed his second straight practice Thursday due to a concussion.

That makes it increasingly likely Shedeur Sanders will start Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Sanders was the No. 2 quarterback for the first eight games of the season.

Wednesday was the first time during the regular season he worked with the first-team offense in practice.

Offensive coordinator Travis Switzer said Sanders had a good day.

“I thought he had a good day, really,” Switzer said.

“His urgency and his ability to command and operate was good.

We were getting in and out of the huddle pretty well, which is some of the things we emphasized.

Just overall he let it rip.

He made some good throws and checked it down when he should.

I thought it was a pretty good day for him.”

Sanders lost the close preseason competition for the starting job to Watson.

Switzer said Sanders has handled life as the backup well this season.

“He’s done a nice job of staying engaged,” Switzer said.

“Our quarterback coaches in that room have done a great job, Mike (Bajakian) and Matt Baker, of trying to continue to challenge him and keep him involved.

And he’s asked questions in meetings.

He’s doing a nice job staying engaged and trying to go about it like he’s playing.”

Sanders was a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

He started the final seven games of his rookie season.

Switzer arrived this year with coach Todd Monken and has never coached Sanders in a regular-season game.

“I’m just excited to see him go play and hopefully let it rip, which I think he’ll do,” Switzer said.

“He did it yesterday in practice.

Go lead, be in command, which I think he’s grown tremendously in that area, really since we got here.

Play with confidence.”

Defensive end Jared Verse has seen Sanders improve in practice.

“Shedeur’s getting better every week, especially going up against him on scout (team),” Verse said.

“You see him reading the defense a lot better.

You see how confident he is in the pocket, rolling around, dodging sacks and stuff like that.

So I’m confident whoever we have at quarterback, but he’s been growing a lot.”

INJURY REPORT

Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (elbow) missed practice for the second straight day.

Rookie right guard Austin Barber (calf) and linebacker Quincy Williams (hamstring) practiced in a limited capacity after missing Wednesday.

Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) and rookie safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (hip) were added to the injury report as limited participants.

Rookie receiver Denzel Bost also appeared on the injury report.

THE BACKLASH

Sanders’ press conference response this week drew criticism from hosts on the show "First Things First."

The exact wording of his response has been widely shared and debated.

Critics say it showed a lack of humility for a quarterback who has thrown only three passes this season.

All three of those passes were completions, totaling two yards.

Skip Bayless also weighed in with a strong claim about Sanders’ draft fall.

“What happened to Shedeur (Sanders) in his draft was the biggest draft injustice I have ever experienced,” Bayless said.

“I thought he should go No. 1 to the Titans instead of Cam Ward.

I don’t think he’s gotten a fair shot in Cleveland.

And I pray for this kid to get a chance somewhere.

He fell to the fifth round because people didn’t like his style.

The way that he interviewed at the (NFL Combine).

And his alleged arrogance, right.

His father.

In the preseason, it was supposed to be a head-to-head fair competition.

He outplayed Deshaun Watson every way you could outplay him in the preseason games.

And he was playing with the twos and threes.

Deshaun was playing with the starters.”

Head coach Todd Monken said he’s excited to see Sanders play.