Shedeur Sanders was not listed as the backup quarterback for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. He did not play due to a back injury amid trade rumors.
Meanwhile, Dillon Gabriel stunk it up against the Patriots.
It will be interesting to see how the Browns handle the Sanders situation moving forward. They must make a decision on how to proceed prior to the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 4.
Shedeur Sanders is injured.
Joe Flacco began the 2025-25 season as the starting quarterback in Cleveland. He was later benched in favor of Dillon Gabriel and traded to Cincinnati.
With Flacco gone, Sanders was elevated from the emergency third-string quarterback to the backup.
However, the Browns did not thrust him into action at any point during his first two games in that role. They kept him on the bench as Gabriel faced the Steelers and Dolphins.
And then he was ruled out just moments before kickoff on Sunday. Shedeur Sanders went through warmups after being listed as questionable with a sore back. He ultimately could not go.
Shedeur Sanders, listed as questionable with a sore back, works out with QB coach Bill Musgrave. pic.twitter.com/acyqFb9VSC
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) October 26, 2025
Dillon Gabriel got the start as planned but it did not go well. The rookie signal-caller completed only 12 of 19 pass attempts for less than 100 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions through three quarters.
Fans called for a change. They wanted to go to Sanders but he was not available.
Will he be traded?
This is where things could get interesting.
Shedeur Sanders posted the following image on Instagram just minutes before he was ruled out on Sunday. Nobody knows what it means.
Some people took the post to be a farewell to Cleveland, thinking Sanders was only ruled out because he does not want to play for the Browns and requested a trade. Others considered it an apology for not being able to go.
Maybe it means nothing. Maybe it means something.
Either way, Gabriel stunk. Cleveland has no reason not to make a change at quarterback at this point but the guy to which Kevin Stefanski would hand the keys may not want to be there. The Browns might shop Sanders around. They might thrust him into the starting quarterback role. We shall see!