The Cleveland Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders was cleared to play in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Rams Sanders missed the Browns’ second preseason game after suffering an oblique injury.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Thursday that Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Sanders are all set to play: “We’ll play our starters in this game, depends on how the game flow goes, but between 20 to 25 plays. There will be some guys that get out of there a little bit sooner than others. But it’s really an individualized plan for each guy. But you will see the starters out there.”
Stefanski said Flacco will play first, Gabriel will play second, and Sanders will play third: “[Sanders is] feeling better and better, so barring any setback, if he comes in not feeling good tomorrow — which I don’t anticipate — he would play on Saturday.”
When he was asked if there was anything that he needed to prove during Saturday’s game, Sanders said: “I’m playing for fun, playing for happiness. I’m playing for fans, the family, for everybody, for this organization that drafted me. So it’s a lot that I’m playing for.” When he was asked about the “No. 2” role behind Flacco, Sanders added: “Honestly, bro, I really don’t look into that. I don’t care. Whenever it’s time for me to get out there and play, I’m gonna play. Whenever it’s time for the lights to come on, I’m gonna do my thing. I’m not concerned about when it is.”
Sanders completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards with two touchdowns in the preseason opener. Gabriel was 13-of-18 for 143 yards with an interception last weekend against Philadelphia.
Fellow quarterback Kenny Pickett won’t play on Saturday as he is still recovering from a hamstring injury. Stefanski noted Tyler Huntley is unlikely to play, given that there’s only so many snaps.
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