Shedeur Sanders’ first 2026 preseason appearance started out looking like a dream, but it ended with a nightmare interception that has to sting Browns fans. The second-year quarterback’s day in Chicago began with a sharp 3-of-4 drive for 63 yards through the air, showing real promise for Cleveland’s shotcaller. Things were looking great, even if his team fell just short on fourth down in the red zone. But what followed? A performance that’s going to stick in the minds of anyone watching.
From “Wow” to “Ugh” in a Flash
That strong opening sequence? Yeah, the wheels gradually loosened and eventually fell right off Sanders’ wagon. After that initial solid drive, he just couldn’t find his rhythm. On his next two series, he completed only one pass each time. This isn’t what you want to see from a guy looking to lead your offense. The Browns started falling out of the contest early, and while he tried to get them back, a near over-the-shoulder connection to Larvadain was broken up by Skyler Thomas. The momentum was just gone.
The Final Pass That Tells the Story
Sanders’ final pass of the day was truly lackluster. He overthrew Malachi Corley by a few yards, gifting what was probably the easiest interception of Beanie Bishop’s career as a Chicago Bear. Bishop took it 39 yards the other way, and that was it for Sanders. His final stat line tells a clear story of struggle: 6-of-11 for 79 yards, one interception, and just three rushing yards on two carries. That’s a 39.6 rating. Ouch. Adding insult to injury, his replacement, Dillon Gabriel, came in and immediately threw an interception to Bishop too. The Bears ran away with it, winning 27-10.
What’s next for Sanders and the Browns? After a debut like this, there are definitely questions swirling. He showed flashes, sure, but that rapid decline and the ugly final pass are hard to ignore. Cleveland’s going to be looking for a much sharper performance in his next outing, because this kind of inconsistency is a tough pill to swallow.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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