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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is fighting for a roster spot.
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is already facing challenges off the field as he works to secure a roster spot.
The former Colorado star, selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft, was recently cited for driving 101 mph — 41 mph over the posted speed limit — after being pulled over shortly after midnight on June 17.
The speeding incident — his second over a two-week span — occurred during rookie orientation and has drawn scrutiny as the Browns evaluate their young quarterback.
“He’s a guy who is fighting, not for a starting job, but a job period,” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said during an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. “Generally, your tolerance with this sort of stuff with guys who are in that position is far less than it would be with a star player. I don’t think this is the most serious thing in the world. But it is an early test for how he handles it with the team and everything else.”
Shedeur Sanders is Playing Catchup With Browns
Sanders is facing an uphill battle as he works to overcome his draft slide and climb the Browns’ depth chart. The rookie quarterback is competing with fellow first-year player Dillon Gabriel, as well as veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett.
Sanders saw limited reps during minicamp and did not take snaps with the starters. According to Breer, that reflects the extent of development Sanders still needs.
“The reality is that the reason he got less 11-on-11 reps and first-team reps in the spring was because he had more ground to make up. He was behind,” Breer said. “That’s something you heard consistently from teams ahead of the draft. He’s already playing catch-up, behind even Dillon Gabriel, let alone Kenny Pickett or Joe Flacco.”
Despite the challenges, Sanders has embraced a patient, team-first approach as he adapts to the NFL.
“My goal is to be the best teammate and to be as polished as I can be in every aspect,” Sanders said during minicamp. “I view things as I got time. I got time to be able to grow and mature and be able to understand the ins and outs of the defenses and be able to get the good insight from the vets in the room.
“So, I look at it as a plus. I got time to actually be able to really have a great understanding and whenever it’s time for me to play, then it’s time for me to play. But I’m not looking too far in the future about all that. I’m looking [at] every day in practice. … I’m focused on the small things and over time the big things will happen.”
Shedeur Sanders: I Have to ‘Own Up’ to Mistakes
Sanders addressed the drama surrounding his speeding tickets while appearing at David Njoku’s celebrity softball game on Thursday.
“You know I made some wrong choices, personally, I gotta own up to them. I made some not great choices.” Sanders said in a video that circulated widely on social media.
Sanders and the Browns’ rookies will report to training camp on July 17. The veterans will join them on July 22.
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