Shedeur Sanders’s shot at making a closing argument for Cleveland’s starting quarterback job just got put on hold. A lightning delay stopped the Bills-Browns preseason contest after only four snaps, with the Buffalo offense still on the field. This whole situation just got way more complicated for the Browns’ most important position battle.
The Lightning Struck Early, REALLY Early
Seriously, four snaps. That’s all it took before the lightning in the area forced a halt to the game. Buffalo’s offense was out there, trying to get things going, and then BAM, everything stopped. As of right now, the game hasn’t even resumed, which means a huge chunk of potential playing time for players trying to make their case is just evaporating. Talk about a momentum killer, especially for a guy like Sanders who needs every rep he can get.
Cleveland’s QB Battle Just Got Even Messier
This delay hits Sanders hardest. Deshaun Watson actually started this Week 1 preseason game with most of the other starters, getting that crucial time to build chemistry. But Sanders? He was set to come in later, and when he does, he’ll be working with a much different group, specifically left tackle Spencer Fano and receiver Denzel Boston. It’s not the ideal setup to show what you can do when you’re battling for the top spot, especially now with even less time to make an impression. Watson is still expected to play in the third quarter, which is a pretty standard plan for a starter getting their reps.
If that plan for Watson to play in the third quarter suddenly shifts, though? That’s going to be the clearest sign yet that Watson has locked up the Week 1 starting job. It means the team felt he showed enough, or maybe they just don’t want to risk him in a weird, delayed preseason game. Either way, this lightning delay has just added a whole new layer of intrigue to what was already a major decision for Cleveland’s offense. What’s going to happen when they finally get back on the field, and how much time will Sanders actually get to show his stuff? We’ll be watching.
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.
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