Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders says he’s proud of the control he took in the huddle during Saturday’s preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills. While he got his first preseason start and led a touchdown drive, a second-quarter interception cast a shadow, but coach Todd Monken quickly flipped the script on who was to blame. This QB1 battle with Deshaun Watson just got incredibly interesting.
Sanders Shows Out, Takes Control
Sanders himself? He’s hyped about the control he grabbed in the huddle during his first preseason start. When asked what he was proudest of regarding his growth from his first preseason game, he straight up said getting that first completion was the “biggest difference.” Once that ball hit Isaiah Bond, he felt like “it was just rolling.” You could hear the confidence.
He was all about “operating within the huddle, and play clock and everything, just being on time… just being in control.” That’s the kind of mindset you want from your guy under center, right? He even led a touchdown drive in the first quarter, getting those points on the board. He finished the half a solid 9-for-11 for 74 yards and a score, alongside that one interception. Not a bad stat line at all.
Coach Monken Defends His Young Gun
Now, about that pick. Coach Monken didn’t mince words after the game. While he praised Sanders, saying “There’s a lot there to like” and that he “plays with a certain amount of confidence” and has “gotten a lot better of getting rid of the ball,” he also immediately took the heat off the QB for the interception. Monken said he felt tight end Jermaine Terry “certainly could have caught” the throw that got picked off in the second quarter. Think about that for a second. The Browns coach is telling reporters his tight end dropped a potential game-changer. That’s a huge vote of confidence for Sanders, isn’t it?
The QB1 Call Looms Large
So what’s next? This whole QB1 battle with Deshaun Watson just got way more intense. Monken had already told reporters he planned to name a starter “early next week.” After Saturday’s game, he confirmed he’d be hitting the tape on Sunday before making any final decisions on who starts the season. It’s a huge call for Cleveland.
All eyes are on the Browns this week. Monken will make his call soon. Will it be the confident young gun who’s “in control” or the veteran? Every fan in Cleveland is holding their breath waiting for that announcement. It’s going to be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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