Overview
- Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Sanders will be active and serve as QB2 against the Jets after practicing fully and carrying no injury designation.
- Sanders has yet to take a regular-season snap, was inactive in Week 8 with back tightness, and returns behind fellow rookie Gabriel with Bailey Zappe designated as the emergency option.
- Cleveland is 2-6 and Gabriel has completed 59.9% of his passes for 702 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions across six appearances and four starts.
- Stefanski ceded play-calling to Tommy Rees, who plans to work from the booth and emphasized plans to better stress defenses and support the quarterback.
- External pressure grew as local hosts questioned Sanders’ injury timeline, Bernie Kosar advocated caution, and ESPN draft analysts projected Cleveland could target a 2026 quarterback such as Dante Moore.