Shedeur Sanders has bold confidence ahead of first Browns start: ‘I’m the guy’

Shedeur Sanders is not going to let his rocky NFL debut shake him as his first start awaits.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski formally named Sanders as Cleveland’s QB1 for Sunday’s game against the Raiders, a prospect the rookie out of Colorado said he’s excited about.

“Yeah, mentally and emotionally, I’m in a great place overall,” the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders told reporters Wednesday. “In life, there’s always going to be adversity. Things aren’t always going to go as planned, but I would say I’m prepared for everything.”

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) is sacked by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Trenton Simpson (32) during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Sanders, 23, made his first regular-season appearance on Sunday against the Ravens when he came on in relief of fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, who exited with a concussion.

In a sloppy game on both sides, Sanders endured plenty of struggles, completing 4-of-16 passes for 47 yards with a pick. He was also sacked twice and finished with a quarterback rating of 13.5.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders takes questions during a media availability, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at the NFL football team’s complex in Berea, Ohio. AP

The fifth-round draft pick had bounced between being the third-stringer and backup this year, so he said just getting out on the field for an actual game was a positive.

“Really the positives from that game is just being able to go in there, breaking that barrier, coming off the sideline for so many weeks and being able to do that,” he said. “I don’t think a lot of people understand how challenging that is from a rookie going into a game.”

The Browns have been hungry for long-term stability at quarterback, and while they did have it for a fleeting moment with Baker Mayfield, they’ve largely struggled since trading him before the 2022 season.

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When asked about that extra weight that comes with being a quarterback in Cleveland, Sanders remained steadfast in his confidence that he can get the job done ahead of the matchup of 2-8 cellar dwellers.

“Well, first, I know our fans have a lot of expectations and hope, and I would be doing a disservice to myself and disservice to the organization if I didn’t feel like I am the guy,” Sanders said. “I did everything I need to — I’m doing everything I need to prepare to be the best version of myself as possible. With the circumstances, everything got me sped up, and that’s great — you know, I like pressure in life. I’m just excited for everything.“So, I feel like I’m the guy, I know I’m the guy, but you just have to be able to see. The game got to speak.”