As the Cleveland Browns gear up for their Week 1 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the status of quarterback Shedeur Sanders has become a topic of significant concern. Following the announcement by head coach Todd Monken that Deshaun Watson will start, Sanders’ prospects for playing time have become increasingly uncertain, particularly if Watson can return to his previous Pro Bowl form.
During a recent episode of "The Tony Rizzo Show," Cleveland sports radio personality Zach Frydenlund, known as Football Chopz or PChopz, made a bold prediction regarding Sanders’ status. He suggested that Sanders might not even make the active roster for the season opener, potentially falling to the third-string quarterback position.
Frydenlund stated, "Taylen Green will be QB2, and Shedeur Sanders will be inactive, serving as the emergency QB in Week 1." This assertion caught Rizzo off guard, prompting him to question the rationale behind such a decision.
In response, Frydenlund explained that Monken has been vocal about his support for Green, hinting at the possibility of incorporating him into the game plan. If Frydenlund's prediction materializes, Sanders would be eligible to suit up but would not be among the 48 players listed as active for the game. Instead, he would be classified as an emergency quarterback, a role that severely limits his opportunities to play.
Emergency quarterbacks are only activated if both primary quarterbacks on the depth chart are unable to continue due to injury or disqualification. They cannot enter the game simply to replace a struggling quarterback, and if either of the two ahead of them is cleared to play, the emergency QB must exit the game.
This potential inactivity would hinder Sanders' ability to demonstrate his skills on the field, making it challenging for him to reclaim the starting position or attract interest from other teams. Sanders initially took over as Cleveland's starter after Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion, but his performance in eight games was less than stellar. He completed just 56.6% of his passes, throwing more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (7), which placed him 37th in the PFN Quarterback Impact Rankings with a grade of 63.
Despite these struggles, Sanders did manage to earn a Pro Bowl selection, albeit under circumstances where better options were unavailable. In contrast, Taylen Green presents an exciting alternative for the Browns. In his final season at Arkansas, Green amassed 2,714 passing yards, 777 rushing yards, and a total of 27 touchdowns. If he can adapt his game to the NFL level, he could become a valuable asset as a reliable backup to Watson.
As the Browns prepare for their season opener, the decisions surrounding their quarterback depth chart will be closely scrutinized. The outcome of this situation could have lasting implications for Sanders' career trajectory and the overall success of the Browns this season.
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