Overview

• Cleveland traded Joe Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Bengals for a 2026 fifth-rounder, clearing the way for an all-rookie active quarterback room.
• The Browns have not named a backup for Week 6, with fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders competing with practice-squad veteran Bailey Zappe behind starter Dillon Gabriel.
• Sanders said he is in a great mental space, sees a light at the end of the tunnel and is focused on helping Gabriel prepare, though he has yet to take a regular-season snap.
• Stefanski called the Flacco deal a surprise and declined to outline benchmarks for promoting Sanders, a stance that has drawn criticism from national pundits and some fans.
• Reporting from The Athletic indicated at least one Browns staffer wanted Sanders traded after his preseason showing, underscoring internal debate over his role and future.