The Browns lost a heartbreaker in overtime against the Saints on Sunday, but you gotta admit, Shedeur Sanders threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns in that tough defeat. He even ripped off a clutch 39-yard touchdown bomb to tight end Harold Fannin, making it 23-22 in OT. Then, he threw an incompletion on the two-point conversion attempt, letting the Saints sneak away with the win. Close, so close!
Monken’s Praise for a Backup Stepping Up
Head coach Todd Monken was quick to commend Sanders for his effort, especially considering the circumstances. Deshaun Watson sat out most of the week in concussion protocol, thrusting Sanders into the starting role. Monken said, “I’m really proud of him and how hard he’s worked since I’ve been here.” He was honest, adding, “He wasn’t perfect. I wasn’t perfect.” But what really jumps out is Monken highlighting that Sanders “really hasn’t taken snaps with the ones in, what, 10 weeks.” Think about that: two and a half months just “running cards” in practice. To step in and battle like that? “Really proud of him,” Monken reiterated. It shows a ton of heart from Sanders, no doubt.
The Great QB Silence After the OT Thriller
Even with that kind of gutsy performance, Monken was having none of it when asked if Sanders made a case for a longer run as the starter. His response was immediate, almost dismissive: “How long has it been? Thirty minutes since the game ended? I’m not getting into quarterback [questions].” He drew a hard line: “If we want to talk about Shedeur, we can talk about Shedeur.” It’s a classic coach move, protecting the player and avoiding a controversy, but you have to wonder what’s really going on behind the scenes when a backup puts up nearly 300 yards and two scores and the head coach clamps down on any future talk.
What’s next for the Browns’ quarterback room is anybody’s guess. Monken clearly isn’t rushing to answer after that overtime thriller, and his tight-lipped response certainly keeps us guessing. You gotta wonder if Sanders’ performance, even in a loss, planted a seed that Monken is trying to ignore for now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
Leave a Reply