Veteran broadcaster Dan Patrick questioned the media’s fixation on Cleveland Browns backup quarterback Shedeur Sanders, suggesting the coverage around him has far exceeded that of most NFL starters.
Cleveland named Gabriel its starter earlier this month after benching and later trading Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals. That move elevated Sanders to the No. 2 role.
Despite limited opportunities, Sanders continues to dominate headlines, a level of attention Dan Patrick said few backups have ever experienced.
Patrick said on his show that reporters seem “obsessed” with whether Sanders is taking first-team reps, while similar situations elsewhere in the league go unnoticed.
“Has anybody asked the Tennessee Titans about their backup quarterback getting reps?” Patrick said, adding that Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland’s rookie starter, “is a better quarterback, right now, than Shedeur Sanders.”
“Has anybody asked the question to the Tennessee Titans about their backup quarterback getting reps?” #NFL https://t.co/95GkWvQliM
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 24, 2025
Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the fifth-round pick has not been receiving first-team practice reps.
“With a young quarterback, with Dillon starting, you want to make sure he gets a lot of the reps,” Stefanski said.
More: Shedeur Sanders trusts God’s timing as Browns keep him waiting for first-team reps
Browns’ quarterback strategy sparks debate on Shedeur Sanders’ future
The Browns’ quarterback situation has continued to stir discussion since the team drafted two rookies in 2025.
Gabriel, selected in the third round, has started three games, throwing for 546 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions with a 59.8 percent completion rate. Sanders, a fifth-round pick, remains on the sidelines but has drawn intense speculation about his long-term role.
Browns insider Tony Grossi told ESPN Cleveland’s The Really Big Show that head coach Kevin Stefanski might be open to moving Sanders before the trade deadline.
“I would say true,” Grossi said when asked if Stefanski would trade Sanders given full control, noting the coach “doesn’t think he considers him a quarterback of value.”
While Sanders posted 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns in his final college season, his limited action and draft-day slide have fueled debate about his fit in Cleveland.
Reports indicate the Browns’ front office, led by Andrew Berry, maintains that selecting both Gabriel and Sanders was “a decision that we thought was best for the team.”
Still, questions remain about whether the organization views Sanders as a developmental piece or a trade asset before the Nov. 4 deadline.
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