Shedeur Sanders can take another big step vs. the Steelers toward showing the Browns he’s their ’26 QB: Insid
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Shedeur Sanders can take another big step toward showing the Browns he can be their quarterback of the future with a strong performance Sunday vs. the Steelers.
He has two more starts to convince them not to draft a quarterback with one or both of their picks in the NFL Draft, and both are against AFC North rivals, the 9-6 Steelers Sunday at home and the 5-10 Bengals next week in Cincinnati.
Sanders took significant steps forward during the Browns’ 23-20 loss to the Bills despite the fact he slipped to 1-4 as a starter. He went 20 of 29 for 157 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions against the No. 2 pass defense, and led the Browns with 49 yards rushing against the 30th-ranked run defense. He was also sacked twice, including once on crucial fourth and 2 with the game on the line in the fourth quarter.
But he had a chance to upset the heavily-favored 11-4 Bills on the final drive, and just couldn’t pull it off. The drive began at his 12, and was derailed by a sack and an intentional grounding.
But he helped keep the Browns in the game behind an offensive line with only one original starter in left guard Joel Bitonio, and with tight end David Njoku sidelined with a knee injury. His starting running back, Quinshon Judkins, was lost to a season-ending dislocated right ankle and fractured fibula late in the first half, and many of his skill players were rookies in tight end Harold Fannin Jr., Judkins, Malachi Corley and Isaiah Bond. He has yet to develop much of a rhythm with the Browns’ two starting receivers, Jerry Jeudy (3 catches for 12 yards) and Cedric Tillman (1 catch for 8 yards).
Sanders also played the second half with a lacerated and bandaged pinkie that occurred with just over six minutes left in the half.
But he showed the Browns that he can take what the defense gives him, check it down when necessary, step up in the pocket, and avoid sacks. On a second-quarter field goal drive, he ducked out of a Greg Rousseau sack for a 13 yard gain on third and 7, and slipped out of arm-tackle attempt for a 16-yard gain. He also hit Judkins with a short pass to the right for a 16-yard gain to the Buffalo 4, and might’ve thrown a TD pass on that drive had Brenden Bates not dropped the ball at the 2. That would’ve put the Browns ahead 14-13, instead of the 13-10 deficit they ended up with.
For much of the game, Sanders displayed quality starter potential and earned a check on the “yes” side of the future QB1 ledger.
Sanders knows he shouldn’t have taken a sack on fourth and 2 with 5:02 left, and the final drive got ugly with the sack and near-safety on the intentional grounding. But the Browns were encouraged by his progress, his understanding of what the savvy Bills’ defense was showing, and his ability to put points on the board and compete with a team that went to the AFC Championship Game last year.
They’re not ready to anoint him their starter for 2026 just yet, but he’s keeping himself firmly in the conversation and moving closer to that distinction.
But the Browns always planned to evaluate all seven starts and not ride the ups and downs of each performance. They knew he’d probably have a clunker like he did in Chicago, and that he’d exceed expectations in other areas. But he’s checked off so many boxes and passed so many tests along the way that he has a legitimate chance to be their starter in 2026.
The next step for Sanders is to excel in situational ball and not try to press or force things on one play. He must maintain his composure in the clutch and do his part to close out a game. He showed vs. the Titans that he’s more than capable of that, but Kevin Stefanski signed off on taking him off the field for the final two-point attempt that could’ve tied the game. Judkins failed to pitch the ball to Gage Larvadain on the reverse, and the Browns lost 31-29. But Sanders put two TDs on the board in the final 4:27 to flash his closer ability.
Some of the other things that Sanders has demonstrated during his five starts are sneaky elusiveness, elite accuracy and touch, and the toughness to stand in and absorb a big hit. He has an uncanny knack for stepping up, sensing the pressure, and calmly delivering a catchable ball under duress. Then he brushes off the big hit and gets up for the next play.
He’s been hit too many times in his last three games — a total of 40 — but those should decrease as he trusts his receivers and checkdowns more. The key thing is that he’s remained on an upward trajectory since his first appearance vs. the Ravens Nov. 16 and is defying a lot of odds.
Sanders vs. the Steelers
Sanders won’t have to face the Steelers’ best pass-rusher in former NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt (collapsed lung), which is an enormous break for him and the Browns.
But he didn’t get as big a break as he might’ve.
The 9-6 Steelers were prepared to rest some of their starters if they had clinched the AFC North on Saturday night by virtue of a Ravens loss or tie in Green Bay. Instead, the Ravens won, 41-24, thanks in large part to Derrick Henry’s 216 rushing yards and four TDs. Former Browns quarterback Tyler Huntley started for the Ravens in place of an injured Lamar Jackson (back) while Malik Willis started in place of a concussed Jordan Love. Willis, who played great, left the game with a shoulder injury in the second half.
It means the Steelers can clinch the AFC North with a win or tie in Cleveland on Sunday, and if they lose, it sets up a winner-take-all battle between the Steelers and Ravens (8-8) in Pittsburgh next weekend in the finale.
After the game, Huntley, who spent time with the Browns in training camp in August, said in his press conference “I’m trying to get out of here and call Shedeur (Sanders) and tell him to get it done.”
Sanders, who suddenly gained a lot of fans in Baltimore, will have to deal with the likes of Cam Heyward, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig with the division on the line for Pittsburgh.
But a victory over the Steelers won’t be the determining factor of whether Sanders takes that next leap toward the 2026 nod. The Browns will look for continued growth and progress from Sanders in terms of accuracy, decision-making, footwork and points-production.
His go-to guy, Fannin suffered a groin injury on Friday and is questionable, but said he “should be good” to go.
Kevin Stefanski and Sanders
If Sanders continues to progress well under Stefanski and play caller Tommy Rees, it will go a long way towards continuity moving forward. If Sanders makes enough strides with this staff, including quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave, to prove he can be the starter in 2026, the Browns will take that into strong consideration when deciding how to proceed after the season.
They might not want Sanders to start over with all new coaches, although there might be a world in which they’d try to keep Rees as offensive coordinator even if they make a change at head coach.
But the Browns have continued to play extremely hard, and Stefanski has the support of key players such as Joel Bitonio, who recognize that it’s difficult to win with rookie quarterbacks.
The Browns traded both of their veteran quarterbacks this season in Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco, and asked Stefanski to win with a third-round rookie and a fifth-rounder. If the Browns finish strong and Sanders keeps improving, Stefanski has a good chance of returning for 2026.
A rookie QB vs. Sanders
Sanders can only control his performance and let the chips fall where they may because the decision will come down to, in part, where the Browns land in draft order, and which quarterbacks are available.
They currently have the No. 3 and No. 27 picks in the first round, and that second first-rounder can be used to trade up if necessary. If they beat the Steelers and Bengals, they’ll slip significantly from No. 3.
Then, it’s a matter of which QBs are available when they pick, and if the rookie has more upside potential than Sanders, who’s shown plenty.
The three quarterbacks expected to go in the first round are Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Oregon’s Dante Moore and Alabama’s Ty Simpson, and they must declare by Jan. 14 or Jan. 23 if they’re in the national championship game.
The Browns might not know until Jan. 23 who might be available to them, and if they like that QB better than Sanders. If they’re not sure about one of these QBs, they can always consider trading their top pick and grab another first-rounder for 2027 when the class might be even stronger.
Aaron Rodgers on playing against Deion Sanders and now Sheduer
Rodgers, 42, recalled played against Deion Sanders when Rodgers was with the Packers in 2005, and now he’s playing against his son.
“I didn’t throw him a pick, thankfully, but he was playing in Baltimore in 2005 when we went down there Monday night and I came in the game,” he said. “We’re down 41-3. I had a fun exchange with him between the third and fourth quarters. Luckily, I kept it tight. We only lost 51-3.”
As for facing Shedeur on Sunday, he’s getting used to seeing the sons of his opponents.
“It’s part of it,” he said. “Lots of these guys in here and out there, I’ve played with relatives or fathers, against them. Cincinnati has Kris Jenkins, I played with his uncle. Tampa has Antoine Winfield Jr, played against his dad for a number of years. Obviously, Joey [Porter Jr.] in here, played against his dad. So, it’s fun because it means I’m still playing. I follow Shedeur, his career.
“Any football fan had watched him go from Jackson (State) to Boulder, and that being kind of a former Pac 12 school, obviously was pulling for him. That’s a tough draft slide, obviously, much longer wait than mine was (No. 24 overall in 2005). It seems like he’s been patient and worked on his craft, and he’s been playing pretty good the last few weeks.”
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