Shedeur Sanders on his first time playing in the NFL
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders keeps a positive mindset as he reflects on his first time playing in the NFL, losing to the Ravens in Week 11.
Sports Pulse
It only was a matter of time for Shedeur Sanders, after all.
The highly publicized fifth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns gets his first opportunity to start on Sunday when the Browns travel to “Sin City” to take on the Las Vegas Raiders (2-8). Sanders is getting his shot at the QB1 job after fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel was sidelined with a concussion.
The passer has risen the depth chart from the preseason No. 4 quarterback to spot-starter this weekend, but he’ll hope he opportunity lasts longer than just Sunday. With the Browns dealing with all sorts of tumult at the quarterback position, Sanders presents the latest opportunity for stability and production for a scuffling, 2-8 Cleveland unit.
He’ll also have the chance to wash away his brief, ugly debut vs. the Baltimore Ravens, in which he went 4-of-16 passing for 47 yards and an interception, and he’ll have the chance to do it against a sub-par Raiders squad which has fallen on hard times in 2025, as well.
USA TODAY Sports will track Sanders’ starting debut vs. the Raiders below, with stats, highlights, analysis and more.
The Raiders could have kicked a field goal to make it a one-possession game but instead decided to go for it on fourth-and-3 from the 22-yard line. Geno Smith wasn’t able to connect with Tre Tucker, so Shedeur Sanders and the offense will continue to protect a two-score lead as the third quarter winds down.
Sanders made a smart move to check down the ball to Harold Fannin Jr. as he faced pressure near his own goal-line. Sanders’ throw was a bit high, but Fannin managed to reel it in before turning and rumbling up-field for a first down.
Sanders continues to play efficiently and avoid critical mistakes, save for his first-half interception.
Sanders was able to complete a screen pass for eight yards on a third-and-long, but it wasn’t enough to convince Kevin Stefanski to go for it on fourth down.
Sanders continues to look steady, having completed 8 of 13 passes for 135 yards and an interception.
Sanders’ first half as a starter went about as well as Cleveland could have hoped. The fifth-round rookie was able to complete 7 of 11 passes in the first half for 127 yards with an interception.
The interception was a rookie mistake where Sanders simply didn’t see a defensive end drop into coverage and fired the ball directly to Charles Snowden. Aside from that, the 23-year-old was efficient and showed off strong downfield accuracy, hitting Isaiah Bond for a perfectly-thrown 53-yarder that set up the team’s second touchdown and also finding Jerry Jeudy for a big gain.
The Raiders will get the ball first to start the second half. Once Sanders returns to the field, he will be tasked with protecting Cleveland’s 11-point lead while continuing to avoid sacks. He has only been sacked once for a 3-yard loss against the Raiders.
For the second time of the game, Sanders managed to find one of his receivers wide open down the field while rolling to his right. Sanders was able to feather the ball to Jeudy, who ran after the catch before having the ball punched out of his hands from behind.
The Raiders recovered the fumble, putting a damper on an otherwise nice play by Sanders.
The Raiders were able to force Sanders into his first big mistake of Sunday’s game. Las Vegas dropped edge rusher Charles Snowden into coverage, and Sanders never saw him. He tried to get the ball to Jerry Jeudy, but Snowden was easily able to pick it off, setting up the Raiders with great field position.
Sanders made a big-time throw in the first quarter of Sunday’s game. The Colorado product rolled out to his right after being pressured and managed to find Bond breaking down the field.
Sanders feathered a great ball to Bond, who was able to bring in the catch and set the Browns up with a goal-to-go opportunity.
Sanders’ second drive wasn’t quite as clear as his first. Malcolm Koonce was able to get after him on a second-and-long and bring him down for a short sack. Sanders then threw a third-down attempt incomplete in Jerry Jeudy’s direction, resulting in a three-and-out.
Sanders has still completed 2 of his first 3 passes for 8 yards in the first quarter.
Sanders played most of the Browns’ first two possessions, but he came off the field for a Wildcat snap on a second-and-5 in the red-zone on the team’s second possession. Quinshon Judkins was able to power the ball into the end-zone on the play, giving the Browns an early 7-0 lead.
Sanders went 2 for 2 passing for 8 yards over his first two drives, with completions to Isaiah Bond and Harold Fannin Jr.
Sanders was asked during a pregame interview about what he hopes to show Browns fans during his first start against the Raiders.
“I’m who they been looking for,” Sanders replied.
Sanders got a chance to see his father before running onto the field in Las Vegas. Below is a look at the interaction between the two:
As many expected, Deion Sanders made the short trip from Boulder, Colorado to Las Vegas, Nevada to watch his son’s first-ever NFL start.
The Browns shared a first look at Sanders getting ready for Sunday’s game against the Raiders.
What time is the Browns vs. Raiders game today?
The Browns-Raiders Week 12 matchup gets underway at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Browns travel to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for the matchup.
How to watch Shedeur Sanders today: Browns vs. Raiders TV channel, live stream
- TV channel: CBS (in market)
- Live stream: Fubo (in market)
The Raiders vs. Browns game will air on CBS in select markets on Sunday afternoon.
Fubo, which carries CBS, will carry the game for in-market viewers, as well.
Shedeur Sanders stats
Sanders first saw the field in Week 11, which turned out to be a forgettable performance for the rookie passer. He attempted 16 passes, completing just four, for 47 yards and an interception, a loss vs. the Ravens.
Sanders got some playing time during the preseason. Here are his cumulative stats in two appearances:
- Completion rate: 17 of 29 (58.6%)
- Passing yards: 152
- Passing touchdowns: 2
- Interceptions: 0
- Fumbles (Lost): 0
- Rushing: 19 yards on four carries (4.75 yards per attempt)
- Sacks: 7
When was Shedeur Sanders drafted?
The Browns chose Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 144th overall selection. The Colorado star was the sixth quarterback selected and the second chosen by Cleveland behind third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel.
Sanders’ selection ended a trying draft day process that saw him go unselected over the first two days and fall victim to a prank call claiming the New Orleans Saints would select him in the second round.
It was later revealed that Jax Ulbrich, son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, was responsible for the prank call. All parties apologized to Sanders for what the younger Ulbrich referred to as a “terrible mistake.”
Sanders signed a four-year rookie deal after being selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Below are the terms of his deal, per Spotrac.com.
- Term: 4
- Total value: $4.6 million
- Average annual value (AAV): $1.16 million
- Guaranteed money: $447,380
