The Cleveland Browns were blown out 34-10 at the hands of the Chicago Bears in their first preseason game on Saturday. Shedeur Sanders got plenty of playing time in relief of Deshaun Watson, who got the start, and he didn’t exactly do much to convince the coaches that he should still be considered for the starting QB role in Week 1.
Sanders is slated to start the second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, but after Saturday’s showing, his fate might already be sealed. Sanders completed six of 11 passes for 79 yards and one inexcusable interception. He also fumbled, though it was recovered by the offense, and overall he has a lot to clean up before his start next week if he intends on making a final push toward that starting gig.
Despite the poor performance, Sanders was in good spirits during his press conference after the game. Camryn Justice of WEWS shared a clip of the media session where Sanders explained his interception.
“What’d I see? The right read; it just slipped…that’s what makes me be mad a little bit because of it…I just didn’t execute the decision, but the right decision was made,” said Sanders.
#Browns QB Shedeur Sanders on the interception today:
"What'd I see? The right read; it just slipped…that's what makes me be mad a little bit because of it…I just didn't execute the decision, but the right decision was made." pic.twitter.com/VZQDgOnOqn
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) August 15, 2026
Sanders’ interception was definitely the right read, and he simply airmailed the throw through a clean pocket and gave the defense one of the easiest turnovers they’ll get all year. It was the kind of play that will make a lot of fans question if Sanders has improved since last season, and hopefully he can lick his wounds and move on from it ahead of next week’s start.
It’s just the preseason, but next week is one of the biggest games of Sanders’ career. The starting quarterback job may have already slipped through his fingers, but if he struggles again versus the Bills, there is a world where he could slip to third string behind Dillon Gabriel.
Sanders did a decent job taking care of the ball over the first few weeks of camp, but that didn’t translate to the preseason. He still has to settle into a new offense with new weapons and behind a new line, but hopefully that process speeds up a bit because he has a lot riding on next week’s game against Buffalo.
NEXT: Deshaun Watson Gets Honest About His Performance On Saturday
