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Shannon Sharpe ripped Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski after rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders had a rough NFL debut in a 23-16 loss to the Ravens on Sunday.
During the latest installment of the “Nightcap” podcast, Sharpe said Sanders not getting any reps with the offensive starters in practice prior to his regular-season debut is “malpractice” by Stefanski.
Sanders entered the game with 12:43 remaining in the third quarter after Dillon Gabriel left the game with a concussion.
“Kevin Stefanski, to say the first time Shedeur Sanders had taken a snap with the starters, the ones, was malpractice,” Sharpe said, referring to the coach’s comments on Wednesday that Sanders had not received reps with the starting offense.
“At no point in time… so you don’t think Dillon Gabriel can possibly get hurt… There is no possible way anything can possibly go wrong that you want to give Shedeur one or two reps with the ones?
“… Here we are in Week 11, the man got drafted in May and at no point in time he had taken one snap with the ones, it’s very disappointing.”
On Wednesday, Stefanski emphasized the importance of Gabriel getting reps, but said Sanders was “still getting reps in a bunch of periods.”
“With a young quarterback, with Dillon starting, you want to make sure he gets a lot of the reps. It’s different when you have a veteran with Joe,” Stefanski said.
Sanders was 4-for-16 passing with 47 yards and an interception on Sunday.
The Colorado product, who is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and Buffaloes football coach Deion Sanders, showed flashes of arm strength, but struggled against a powerhouse Ravens defense.
“I don’t think I played good at all,” Sanders said afterward.
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Gabriel was 7-for-10 passing with 68 yards when he exited the game at halftime.
Cleveland’s offense was held to 187 yards, including 64 with Sanders under center in the second half.
Browns veteran defensive end Myles Garrett — who sacked Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson four times — said Sanders addressed the team in the locker room after the game and took blame for the loss.
Sanders is the backup behind Gabriel, who was named the starter last month after Cleveland benched veteran Joe Flacco, who was then traded to the Bengals.
The Browns (2-8) dropped their third straight.
They play the Raiders (2-7) in Las Vegas next Sunday.
The Raiders have a short week due to playing on “Monday Night Football” against the Cowboys.
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