Browns coach refuses to name backup QB — putting Shedeur Sanders’ rise in doubt

Kevin Stefanski isn’t ready to name a backup quarterback.

With Joe Flacco now in Cincinnati and Dillion Gabriel installed as the Browns’ starter, Cleveland’s head coach was mum when speaking with reporters about whether Shedeur Sanders or Bailey Zappe would be the team’s QB2 for this week’s game against the Steelers.

“[We’re] still working through all roster-type of things,” Stefanski said. “I always have to be mindful of our players and our players’ development. I want to make sure that I’m always doing what’s best for our players, and, of course, our team.

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“But with young players, I’m always thinking about — last week, making the change to Dillon, you have to think long and hard about that because these are young players that you’re so invested in their development. So, I’ll let the week play out, make a decision later on that.”

Zappe, a 2022 fourth-round pick, is currently on the Browns’ practice squad, but could be elevated before Sunday after the Flacco trade.

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Until then, Sanders is Gabriel’s backup by default.

Sanders, who is still waiting to take his first regular season NFL snap, spoke highly of the veteran Flacco after he was dealt away earlier this week.

“He was definitely someone I leaned on for wisdom and I feel like he helped me a lot. He helped me a lot in my time being here in Cleveland,” Sanders said to Fox 8 News in Cleveland. “So now, everybody has their own destinies and plans they have in life, so just happy for him.”

Last week, before the Flacco trade, Sanders was still listed as the No. 3 quarterback on the Browns’ depth chart as they look for their second win of the season.

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The “specific reason” why Sanders wasn’t made Gabriel’s backup was because the Browns “want Sanders to be successful when he’s out there, and when he plays, they want him to do so with a game plan that is made for him to thrive,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport.

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Rapaport added that the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders will play “at some point this season when he’s ready….with a full week of practice and a game plan built for him.”