When QB Shedeur Sanders steps out onto the field at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, he will have a different role than his previous ones from the first 11 weeks of the regular season.
This week, he will make his first NFL start as he serves as the Browns' starting quarterback against the Raiders.
"I think it's going to be exciting," Sanders said. "I know you can't miss it – you cannot miss this moment. It'll be definitely exciting. We are going out there with a purpose, going out there mentally ready, no distractions, no anything, and I'll be excited."
QB Dillon Gabriel remains in the concussion protocol after first experiencing symptoms at halftime of the Browns' Week 11 matchup against the Ravens. Sanders played the entirety of the second half against Baltimore, in which he completed 4 of 16 passing attempts for 47 yards and one interception, and added three carries for 16 yards.
On his first offensive drive, Sanders found WR Cedric Tillman on a 5-yard pass for his first completion and then TE David Njoku on a checkdown for a 7-yard gain. Sanders later showed off his arm on a 25-yard completion to TE Harold Fannin Jr., as well as a 10-yard pass to WR Jerry Jeudy on a third-and-10 situation late in the game. However, as Sanders and the Browns fought to move down the field, they were not able to score in the second half of the game.
"It's a hard position to be thrown into, but that is the life of being a backup quarterback in this league," offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said. "Really proud of the way he fought. We had a chance there going into the last drive and had a chance really up until the last couple of plays to go ahead and either win the game or tie the game up at the very least down the stretch. […] Really proud of the way that he fought. He stayed resilient, stayed in the moment and gave us a chance to win the game at the end of the game, and we'll look forward to coming through on those opportunities down the stretch."
When Sanders said they reviewed the film from the Ravens' game, there were several positives he took from his performance. The main takeaway came in earning the chance to take the field, while also seeing how he settled in as the game continued. He watched how his teammates ran their routes and how the offensive plays unfolded. Sanders also noted certain plays in which he would have operated differently, such as having tighter footwork against blitz looks or finding other opportunities to extend plays.
Now, Sanders has a full week of practices with the first team to help him prepare to start against the Raiders. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said they want to help Sanders be comfortable in the offensive system and that the concepts they run are ones he feels confident in.
Throughout the offseason program, training camp and the season, Stefanski said he has witnessed Sanders learn the nuances of different NFL defenses, understanding how different teams play certain covers or how the blitz protection calls may vary week to week. He has also seen how Sanders has learned the Browns' offense system. Stefanski and Sanders have spent extra time throughout the season watching tape from the previous day together in order to help him continue to improve.
Sanders has also put in extra time through the "hungry dogs" periods following practices, working with other young players to learn the offense and get extra reps.
"He's worked extremely hard at his craft," Stefanski said. "I pointed this out, is that this rookie class – and he fits in with these guys – they love football, they love what they're doing, they pour themselves into this thing. So, it's been fun to watch Shedeur, fun to watch a lot of these young guys because we've done so many extra reps, extra individual periods to watch them work at their craft, which is one of the main parts of our job is the development of these players."
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 12 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
A helmet during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) and Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Cleats during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end K.J. Henry (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
A Gatorade bottles during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end K.J. Henry (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) and Linebacker Eugene Asante (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Cornerback Dee Williams (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Cornerback Sam Webb (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Assistant Special Teams Coach Kyle Hoke during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive back D'Angelo Ross (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Coordinator of Team Logistics Wat Adair during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Stephen Bravo-Brown during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
A Gatorade bottle during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) and Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Offensive tackle Tyre Phillip (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Linebacker Eugene Asante (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive back D'Angelo Ross (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Assistant Groundskeeper Shaun Card and Kicker Andre Szmyt (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Dale Jones during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Sports Medicine Fellow Nandit Patel during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) and Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Assistant Groundskeeper Shaun Card during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Stephen Bravo-Brown during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Assistant Special Teams Coach Kyle Hoke during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
The scenery during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
The linebackers during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Equipment Intern Sasoun Tcholakian during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Anderson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Performance Science Fellow Jeremy Portillo during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) and Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
As Sanders takes those first-team reps throughout the week, he is holding onto his same approach to a game week. He is focused on knowing where his teammates will be on the field and his personal preparation.
"I'm truly excited for that, knowing that I have a piece in the offense and a say so and how things fit my eye and place the players exactly where they need to be," Sanders said. "Seeing how they come in and out of routes, seeing the structure of the O-lineman, seeing a set, just having a feeling. I'm more of a feel type of person. So that's how I learn. That's how I do everything. I'm not a, 'I'm just watching, it's just going to happen.' No, like, I got to be out there, feel it. I got to move around. It's so many details that it takes for me to feel my best and play my best and I'm doing everything in my power and the team's doing everything to help me get prepared."
Rees said as they created the offensive game plan for Week 12 against the Raiders, their goal was pull from different avenues to foster a level of comfort in the offense for Sanders. They looked at elements of the offensive system that he has been previously comfortable in as well as concepts that he likes. Then on Sunday, after a full week of prep, the hope is to see that work translate to the field.
"You want to make your quarterback comfortable," Rees said. "You want to call plays, you want to put in plays that breathe confidence into them as they hear them, as they call them, plays that they know they can make work. And then you press the guys around them to raise their level of play and play well, to continue to breathe confidence in the young players and in the young quarterbacks. So, that's really been the motivation this week moving forward. Had a good first day of practice, had a good walk through this morning, so continue to build off of that."
