Shedeur Sanders did the one thing he probably couldn’t afford to do in the Cleveland Browns’ preseason opener against the Chicago Bears on Saturday. The second-year quarterback threw an ugly interception, which his detractors can clip and use as evidence that he does not deserve to start ahead of Deshaun Watson.
Sanders had a wide-open receiver on an in-breaking route about 20 yards down the field, but he sailed the throw over the head of Malachi Corley, and Bears defensive back Beanie Bishop Jr. had one of the easiest interceptions he will ever get in his NFL career. After the game, Sanders said he made the right read – which he did – but the ball slipped out of his hands.
That sounds like a potentially easy fix, as former NFL QB Kurt Benkert offered some candid advice to Sanders, saying the right-handed thrower needs to change his grip on the ball, specifically where his pointer finger is placed.
“I figured out why Shedeur throws wobblers and why that ball slipped out of his hands on his INT across the middle the other day. He doesn’t hold the ball right, and it’s a simple fix. People hold the laces differently but his pointer finger on the tip of the ball doesn’t allow him to wrap and rotate the ball. His angle is slightly off and it starts with the pointer finger. It might help him to slide down 1 lace too,” Benkert posted.
I figured out why Shedeur throws wobblers and why that ball slipped out of his hands on his INT across the middle the other day.
He doesn’t hold the ball right, and it’s a simple fix.
People hold the laces differently but his pointer finger on the tip of the ball doesn’t allow… pic.twitter.com/wgDfCs5XgG
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) August 16, 2026
It also may be more difficult than it appears. Sanders has likely been gripping the ball that way for at least the past few years, including in college at Jackson State and Colorado, so changing it on the fly in the final stages of an NFL quarterback competition may not be a wise move.
Also, one would think that Browns coaches have noticed this as well and have either worked to correct it or do not think it is an issue. Then again, it may be something they have asked Sanders to work on, and he has not corrected it as of yet.
Saturday was something of a lost opportunity for Sanders, who came in to start the third quarter after Watson played the first half. Watson played a cautious game, likely wanting to avoid the interceptions that plagued him in training camp, and completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards and no touchdowns. The Browns scored their only points with him at QB in the 34-10 loss.
Sanders did complete some downfield throws to start his day, and he finished 6-of-11 for 79 yards. His passer rating of 39.6 was well below Watson’s 98.2.
The next big chance for Sanders comes Thursday in a joint practice with the Buffalo Bills, and he is slated to start the preseason game on Saturday.
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