BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski on Wednesday was noncommittal on whether or not rookie Shedeur Sanders — or observe squad quarterback Bailey Zappe — can be the crew’s backup quarterback within the aftermath of buying and selling Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Cleveland traded Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round decide to Cincinnati on Tuesday in trade for a 2026 fifth-round decide, leaving Sanders and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel as the one quarterbacks on the energetic roster. Nevertheless, Stefanski mentioned he would “let the week play out [and] decide later” when requested in regards to the QB2 function.
“All roster sort of issues, I at all times should be aware of our gamers and our gamers’ improvement,” Stefanski mentioned. “And I wish to guarantee that I am at all times doing what’s greatest for our gamers and, after all, our crew. However with younger gamers, I am at all times fascinated about — final week, making the change to Dillon, it’s a must to assume lengthy and onerous about that, as a result of these are younger gamers that you’re so invested of their improvement. So, I am going to let the week play out [and] decide later.”
Stefanski additionally wouldn’t say if the crew would signal Zappe to the energetic roster forward of Sunday’s recreation in order that one of many backups may function the inactive emergency quarterback.
Final week, Stefanski confirmed that Gabriel obtained reps with the beginning offense in the course of the common season because the backup. When requested if Sanders and Zappe would cut up some first-team reps this week, Stefanski mentioned, “Have to work via all of it. Once more, actually like the fellows we’ve. We simply set to work via all it.”
Sanders, the 144th decide on this 12 months’s draft, has been inactive because the No. 3 and emergency QB via the Browns’ first 5 video games. Within the aftermath of buying and selling Flacco, Cleveland on Tuesday listed Sanders as its No. 2 QB on this week’s unofficial depth chart.
“I would not say there’s one factor you want to see [from Sanders],” Stefanski mentioned. “In my function, I’ve to do what’s greatest for our gamers, our crew, and I am very, very invested in our participant improvement, our younger gamers’ improvement, our quarterback improvement. So, any resolution I make, I wish to simply guarantee that I am doing what’s proper for our gamers.”
Sanders didn’t converse with the media Wednesday, however large receiver Jerry Jeudy credited the rookie quarterback for “doing regardless of the coaches ask of him.”
“He is been doing an amazing job of being a professional and doing what he must do to have the ability to, as soon as he will get his probability, to benefit from it. That is all we will ask for him to do: As soon as he will get his alternative, simply benefit from it,” Jeudy mentioned.
Flacco began the primary 4 video games earlier than being benched for Gabriel, who made his first profession begin final Sunday, a 21-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London. Stefanski mentioned that the commerce “took us abruptly” and that the Bengals reached out to the crew a couple of doable deal.
Deshaun Watson stays on the bodily unable to carry out record as he rehabs from an Achilles damage. Stefanski didn’t present an replace on whether or not Watson would return to observe quickly however mentioned, “he is doing a superb job together with his rehab.”
