Overview

• Rookie Shedeur Sanders told ESPN Cleveland he is ready to play and believes he could outperform many current NFL starters.
• Head coach Kevin Stefanski responded diplomatically, saying all quarterbacks prepare to be ready, without indicating a promotion for Sanders.
• Sanders remains the third-string quarterback behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel and is primarily running the scout team with no regular-season snaps.
• Local and national voices, including Tony Grossi, Harry Douglas and Bart Scott, criticized the remarks as ill-timed and cautioned him about public comments.
• Some analysts, such as Tony Rizzo and Jason Whitlock, floated trade chatter as opinion, while reporting indicates Flacco is expected to start against the Lions.