The Cleveland Browns concluded the preseason on Saturday with a 19-17 comeback win over the Los Angeles Rams. The Browns' veteran backup, Tyler Huntley, led the team on the final push for a game-winning, walk-off field goal
But as Huntley took to the field, Cleveland rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was visibly frustrated that he wasn't the one making the final drive. After taking over in the second half, Sanders had a rough outing, taking multiple sacks and struggling to get the Browns moving on offense.
Sanders confirmed that he asked head coach Kevin Stefanski if he could head back into the game for the final two minutes, with Cleveland down 17-16. But Stefanski refused and went with Huntley for the final play, to Sanders' frustration.
"In the battle of the moment, in the heat of the battle, you want to be that alpha. You want to be that dog. You want to be out there in that final two minute drive. So of course, small things, of course frustrate, but that’s what happens when you want to be a player to be able to change a franchise," Sanders said, via Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot.
Sanders said that he got on the bike to stay warm, and initially didn't realize that he wasn't going to finish the game.
"I didn't know I was out," Sanders said, via Cabot. "I was powering up for that two minute drive because that's just a situation every quarterback dreams for. That's many situations I’ve been in before and I thought I was in, so then he told me I wasn’t in and I was like, 'OK.'"
Stefanski defended his decision multiple times in a press conference after Saturday's game.
"Obviously we didn't play great as an offense in the second half," Stefanski said, via Cabot. "That's never on one person. So we can be better in a bunch of areas and just felt like we wanted to give Snoop (Huntley) a last drive."
"(Sanders) is a competitive kid," Stefanski later added. "The plan was to go with Snoop there. But I wouldn't make any more of it than that."
On Sunday, when speaking to reporters again, Stefanski shut down any narrative that he and the Browns are trying to "sabotage" Sanders, and repeated that he wanted to give Huntley a shot at the end of the game.
"I don't concern myself with outside type of things, but I'm committed to his development like all of our rookies," Stefanski said in the press conference.
Where do things stand with the Browns' quarterback room?
The Browns named Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback last week, bringing an end to weeks of speculation. Flacco made his first start in Saturday's game as a dress rehearsal for the regular season, going 9-of-10 for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Behind him on the depth chart is a little more complicated. Throughout the preseason, fourth-year backup Kenny Pickett was expected to be the first- or second-string QB, but a hamstring injury hampered his position in the QB race.
Now, however, Picket looks poised to come back sooner rather than later. Stefanski said Sunday that he expected Pickett to be available Week 1, and that the quarterback is "getting better every day."
With that said, Stefanski confirmed that they haven't decided who will be QB2 on the depth chart. The unofficial preseason version of the chart has Flacco at QB1, Pickett at QB2, followed by (in order) Dillon Gabriel, Sanders, Huntley and the injured Deshaun Watson.
Sanders' performance on Sunday seemingly secures his spot as the fourth-string QB, especially if Pickett returns. Gabriel, on the other hand, has impressed in both of his preseason appearances: The rookie completed 12 of 19 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown in less than a quarter on Sunday, after putting up a solid performance in the second preseason game as well.
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