Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders experienced a challenging introduction to regular season NFL action on Sunday, November 16, 2025, during a 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at Huntington Bank Field.
Unexpected Opportunity Arises
The highly anticipated debut came under unexpected circumstances when fellow rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel was removed from the game during Cleveland's first possession of the second half to be evaluated for a possible concussion. Medical staff later confirmed Gabriel would not return to the game, thrusting Sanders into the spotlight much earlier than anticipated.
Shedeur Sanders, son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, completed his first two passes, offering initial promise for the Browns offense. However, the remainder of the game proved difficult for the young quarterback as he struggled to maintain consistency against Baltimore's formidable defense.
Statistical Breakdown of Challenging Performance
The final statistics reflected Sanders' difficulties on the field. He finished the game completing only 4 of 16 pass attempts for 47 yards with one interception. Sanders also gained 16 yards on the ground but was sacked twice by Ravens defenders, including a critical third-quarter sack by Kyle Hamilton that resulted in a fumble.
His passer rating of 13.5 underscored the challenging nature of his NFL regular season debut. By comparison, Dillon Gabriel had gone 7-for-10 passing for 68 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions before his exit from the game.
Team Offensive Struggles Continue
The Browns offense as a whole struggled significantly during the second half. Cleveland went three-and-out twice in their six second-half possessions, managing to gain only 44 yards on 28 total plays throughout the final two quarters.
The loss extends Cleveland's losing streak to three consecutive games, dropping their season record to 2-8. The team now faces additional uncertainty at the quarterback position depending on Gabriel's recovery timeline from his concussion.
Post-Game Reactions and Assessment
Sanders displayed maturity in his post-game comments, taking responsibility for his performance. "I don't think I played good at all. They gave me an opportunity. I didn't do up to my expectations to get us a win. I have to take it on the chin," the rookie told reporters.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski expressed confidence in his backup quarterback despite the difficult circumstances. "We trust our guys to perform. He's no different, you know, and playing a backup quarterback role, as we've talked about over the years, that's tough to come in there, but we trust him," Stefanski stated.
Teammate Cedric Tillman offered support for Sanders, noting "He just kind of got thrown out there but I think he handled it well. We know what type of player he is and it was good to see him out there."
Background and Future Outlook
Sanders, a fifth-round draft selection by the Browns despite projections placing him as a first-round talent, became Cleveland's primary backup behind Gabriel after veteran Joe Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals on October 7.
The rookie had been inactive for Cleveland's first five games of the season as the emergency third quarterback. During preseason action, Sanders showed promise by completing 17 of 29 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns across two exhibition matchups.
Sunday's game marked the first time Sanders had led the huddle with the first-team offense, highlighting the challenging transition he faced entering the game under emergency circumstances.
Looking ahead, Sanders acknowledged areas for improvement, specifically mentioning the need to develop timing with receivers like Jerry Jeudy. "I think it's a lot of things we need to look at during the week to get comfortable, even throwing routes with Jerry and all those guys," Sanders commented. "I think that was my first ball to him all year."
The Browns now prepare to face the Las Vegas Raiders next Sunday, with quarterback preparations depending heavily on Gabriel's status in the concussion protocol and Sanders' ability to build upon his first regular season experience.
