Shedeur Sanders sparks controversy before Browns first start

Browns offensive coordinator Travis Switzer discussed the possibility of Shedeur Sanders making his first start of the season during his Thursday media availability.

Switzer did not confirm Sanders as the starter for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

But he made clear the team is preparing as if the rookie backup will take the field.

“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.”

Sanders has been leading the offense in practice for two straight days.

Starter Deshaun Watson entered the NFL’s concussion protocol on Wednesday.

Watson was not spotted by reporters at the start of Thursday’s practice.

Browns head coach Todd Monken has been careful not to rule Watson out for Sunday.

But NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported on Good Morning Football that Watson’s situation “almost certainly means he is out for Sunday.”

Rapoport added that “Shedeur Sanders is expected to make his first start of the 2026 season.”

Switzer added a caveat during his press conference, saying “if it were to be him” when discussing Sanders.

The team has not officially updated Watson’s chances of playing against the Saints.

Switzer also praised Sanders’ performance in Wednesday’s practice.

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

“His urgency, his ability to command and operate was good. We were getting in and out of the huddle pretty well, which is something we emphasized. So, yeah, I think overall he let it rip. He made some good throws, checked it down when he should. Overall, I think it was a pretty good day for him.”

The praise from the OC comes after a week of controversy surrounding Sanders.

On Wednesday, Sanders held his required weekly press conference with Browns reporters.

Such press conferences are usually a routine part of the quarterback’s job.

In 32 NFL cities, quarterbacks answer questions about the previous game and the next opponent without incident.

Sanders, however, turned the session into something unusual.

When asked about the New Orleans Saints defense, Sanders went on an odd tangent.

“I’ve seen a lot,” Sanders said.

“When I smile, just know that means something. I’m maturing. I’m maturing. Like, I could have given a decent answer, but now I’m just going to smile whenever it’s just, like, some questions.”

The answer left reporters and analysts puzzled.

On 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland on Thursday, hosts Ken Carman and Anthony Lima discussed Sanders’ performance.

Lima said the station played audio of other NFL quarterbacks handling similar questions.

“(We) played at least six other quarterbacks today and they all sounded like quarterbacks,” Lima said.

“Shedeur sounded like a middle school football player.”

The segment called out Sanders for what they described as a lack of professionalism.

Yahoo Sports published a story headlined “Browns’ Shedeur Sanders Called Out for ‘Middle School’ Behavior.”

The outlet noted that interacting with the media is contractually part of the quarterback’s job.

Longtime Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot was a guest on the radio show.

Cabot had asked some of the questions that Sanders answered in an unusual way.

She referenced a comment from head coach Todd Monken about eliminating distractions.

“Todd Monken always says, you have to eliminate anything that gets in the way of winning,” Cabot said on the air.

“And the Browns are coming off of a football game in which Jared Verse kind of said some things that caused a stir and impacted that football game. So, you want to avoid those things, you want to avoid those things to the extent that you can and you just want to prepare to play good football.”

Cabot added: “I know he was coached up before he went to that microphone and I know…”

The sentence was cut off in the source material.

The Browns are coming off a week in which outside distractions may have affected the team.

Verse, a defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams, made comments before the teams played that caused a stir.

Monken has emphasized the need to focus on football and avoid off-field noise.

Now, with Sanders potentially making his first start, the distraction is coming from inside the building.

Some observers have noted that if Sanders plays well and the Browns win, the press conference will be forgotten.

But if he struggles against the Saints, the scrutiny will intensify.

The Browns’ first-quarter performance has been a separate point of concern this season.

The team has struggled to score early in games, putting pressure on the defense.

Watson’s absence only adds to the uncertainty.

Switzer was also asked about the team’s struggles in the run game during his press conference.

He did not provide specific details on how the offense would adjust with Sanders at quarterback.

The Browns have several players who have entered the NFL’s five-step return-to-play protocol this season.

Center Elgton Jenkins missed a game due to the protocol when the Browns played on Thursday Night Football.

Other players, including KC Concepcion, Grant Delpit, and Tytus Howard, were cleared in time to make their next start.

Monken acknowledged that the quarterback position is more difficult to manage in the protocol.