Shedeur debuts in loss to Ravens: 'Don't think I played good at all'

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders made his NFL regular-season debut during Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, relieving Dillon Gabriel after a concussion.

The 23-year-old Sanders finished the evening with four completions on 16 attempts for 47 yards and no touchdowns against one interception. He also had 16 rushing yards. Sanders was intercepted on his second offensive series while taking a big hit.

"That's all you could ask for, honestly, a chance to be out there, get your feet wet, to experience how it feels," a grateful Sanders said postgame, according to Leah Doherty of Cleveland 19 News.

Sanders and the Browns had a chance to tie the game in the dying seconds, but the Ravens stopped Cleveland's offense on fourth down. On the previous play, Sanders delivered a deep throw to the end zone on third-and-5, but Baltimore's secondary prevented the touchdown.

"I don't think I played good at all. There's a lot of things we need to look at during the week and go and just get comfortable," Sanders added.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said postgame that Gabriel remains the team's starter but added that Sanders will get the nod next week against the Las Vegas Raiders if Gabriel doesn't clear the concussion protocol, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

The son of two-sport icon Deion Sanders, Sheduer was selected in the fifth round after one of the most discussed falls in NFL draft history. Once considered one of the top quarterback prospects of the 2025 class, Sanders didn't hear his name called until the 144th overall pick.

Sanders began the regular season as Cleveland's third-string quarterback but moved up the depth chart after the Browns traded Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals with the campaign already underway.

Gabriel, who has started six games in 2025, joined the Browns as a third-round pick in April. He went 7 of 10 for 68 yards before exiting Sunday's game.