The Cleveland Browns dropped a heartbreaker 23-22 in overtime to the New Orleans Saints on the road, but it was second-year signal-caller Shedeur Sanders who truly grabbed the headlines, throwing for 297 yards and two touchdowns in his first start of 2026. The real shocker? Head coach Todd Monken refused to commit to Sanders as the starter going forward, even after one of the best games of his young career.
Sanders Shows Up Big, But The Praise Isn’t Enough
What a performance from Sanders, especially considering the circumstances. Stepping in for Deshaun Watson, who is still in concussion protocol, Sanders hadn’t taken snaps with the first team in a whopping ten weeks. Yet, he completed 19 of 31 passes (61.3%) for nearly 300 yards and two scores. Monken, despite the loss, was quick to praise his young QB, saying, “I’m really proud of him. How hard he’s worked since I’ve been here. He wasn’t perfect. I wasn’t perfect. But for a guy that really hasn’t taken snaps with the ones in 10 weeks, to come in there and continue to battle, really, really proud of him.” Monken highlighted Sanders’ growth, pointing to his ability to learn and mature throughout his second year, asking the right questions, and receiving feedback from a new coaching staff. You have to admit, that’s a lot of positives for a guy stepping in cold.
Monken’s Silence Leaves Everyone Guessing
Here’s where it gets interesting. Despite the strong outing, Monken wasn’t ready to name Sanders the permanent QB1. When asked directly if Sanders had done enough against the Saints to earn more starts, Monken deflected hard. “I’m not even, How long has it been, 30 minutes since the game ended? I’m not getting into quarterback. If we want to talk about Shedeur, we can talk about Shedeur,” he shot back. That’s a pretty clear dodge, and it leaves Browns fans scratching their heads. Sanders just put up one of the best games of his career, showing exactly why he could be the future, but his coach won’t even entertain the idea of him starting again.
What’s next for the Browns at quarterback is anyone’s guess. With Deshaun Watson still sidelined, the questions surrounding the QB1 job are only going to get louder. Browns fans are left wondering if Sanders did enough to earn the keys to the offense, or if Monken is truly content to keep everyone guessing.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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