Within minutes of replacing Deshaun Watson under center in today's preseason game against the Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns QB Shedeur Sanders made it pretty clear that he's no lock for the starting job.
Early in the fourth quarter, after having gone six of 10 for 79 yards in just over a quarter of action, Sanders threw the ball into the middle of the field, trying to find a receiver in space but instead overthrew him. The ball landed safely in the hands of Bears defender Beanie Bishop Jr., who took the ball back 34 yards.
That interception wound up being Sanders' final play of the day. He finished the afternoon six of 11 for 79 yards and one interception with a 39.6 passer rating. It was only slightly better than third-stringer Dillon Gabriel, but not as good as Watson.
Not good enough?
For NFL fans that have been down on Sanders as a starter, this was like a Christmas present to them. Many fans immediately took to X and showed off the play as further proof that he doesn't deserve the starting job:
"At least 3 other better options," one user on X declared.
"Competes against himself every day and loses," another mocked.
"Shedeur fans gonna blame the WR for not jumping high enough," a third joked.
"funny how people are gonna blame Shedeur and ignore that the browns have consistently failed to draft 12 foot tall receivers smh."
"He clicked the wrong button… I hate when that happens."
© Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images.
Sanders has been in a dogfight with Watson for the starting job that has gone on since the spring. The leader in the locker room for the coveted job seems change by the day, if not the hour, based on the latest pass in a given practice.
He had a chance to firmly distinguish himself from Watson (who didn't exactly distinguish himself) and blew it. But he'll get another chance in the Browns' next preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.
The Bears went on to win today's game, 34-10.
