Kevin Stefanski Refuses to Play Shedeur Sanders Despite Humiliating Loss to Jets

Shedeur Sanders will not make his NFL debut against the Ravens even though the Browns are 2-7.

Kevin Stefanski Refuses to Play Shedeur Sanders Despite Humiliating Loss to Jets

Shedeur Sanders and Kevin Stefanski (Image via IMAGO)

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Shedeur Sanders‘ return to the active roster sparked expectations that Kevin Stefanski may consider giving him a chance to prove himself. Dillon Gabriel performed adequately. He threw for 167 yards, 2 scores, and committed zero mistakes, but the stat proved futile against the New York Jets.

The Cleveland franchise left MetLife Stadium empty-handed as the Jets secured a 27-20 victory. This marked the former Oklahoma starter’s fourth defeat in Browns colors from five starts since taking over from Joe Flacco earlier in the campaign.

Stefanski’s experiment with Gabriel may no longer be viable this season, despite the small sample size. So, why not take a chance with Sanders? The Browns, at 2-7, are toiling with the bottom feeders, leaving very little hope of qualifying for the playoffs. Allowing Sanders to be the QB1 until the end is not such a bad proposition.

Reporters tried their best to attract Stefanski’s attention to the matter at hand. However, the 43-year-old head coach is not ready to give up on Gabriel.

“Yeah, we are gonna stick with Dillon [Gabriel],” Kevin Stefanski replied when asked about making changes at the quarterback spot.

Skip Bayless blasts Kevin Stefanski for refusing to start Shedeur Sanders as the Browns’ quarterback

Gabriel is among the older quarterbacks to come out of the draft this year, along with the Saints’ Tyler Shough. He spent six years playing college football for UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon before the Browns picked him in the third round.

Kevin Stefanski Refuses to Play Shedeur Sanders Despite Humiliating Loss to Jets
#12 Sheduer Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry zeroed in on Gabriel for his experience, despite his height disadvantage. The decision to select Sanders, however, shocked everyone, including possibly the Browns’ front office, as the call to pick the Colorado graduate came directly from the owner’s cabin.

Sanders made a good first impression in the preseason win against Carolina. Cleveland rejoiced seeing a young quarterback, since Baker Mayfield, handled Stefanski’s system really well. Unfortunately, the Browns coaching team didn’t show much faith in a player who completed 70% of his passes in his final college year and finished in the top 10 of the Heisman voting.

Stefanski went with veteran Flacco as his QB1 for the first four games, which yielded a lone win. He benched the QB, only three years younger than him, to give Gabriel the reins under center.

Gabriel’s game revolves around his accuracy. He doesn’t have the best arm talent or elusiveness with his feet, but he can thread the needle when asked to do so. Seven touchdowns and just two interceptions over seven appearances might seem like solid production for a rookie, but that impression changes due to his tape.

Dillon Gabriel rarely throws beyond 15 yards and is quite inaccurate with throws beyond it. Moreover, he averages two sacks a game (games started as quarterback). According to StatMuse, the Jets’ pass rush recorded 6 sacks on him (he was also sacked 6 times by the Steelers defense).

How much longer do I have to watch Dillon Gabriel dink and dunk and clunk … and lose, even to the Jets … before Shedeur gets his turn???

Skip Bayless tweeted

Regardless, Sanders won’t start next week against the Baltimore Ravens unless there’s a major development. Then again, he has to stay ready to grasp the opportunity when it arrives.

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