After trading Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, the Cleveland Browns appeared likely to elevate Shedeur Sanders as the team’s primary backup quarterback.
Coach Kevin Stefanski, however, isn’t ready to make that call yet.
Speaking Wednesday for the first time since the trade, Stefanski said he was not yet prepared to name the second-string option behind Dillon Gabriel for Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.
‘I always have to be mindful of our players and our players’ development,’ Stefanski said when asked whether Sanders had officially been installed as the backup. ‘I want to make sure I’m always doing what’s best for our players, and of course our team. … These are young players that you’re so invested in their development, so I’ll let the week play out and make a decision later on then.’
In addition to Sanders, the Browns also have Bailey Zappe on the practice squad. The fourth-year passer started eight games for the New England Patriots from 2022-23 and also took the reins for the Browns in last season’s finale against the Baltimore Ravens. He re-signed with the team in August after Cleveland traded Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Stefanski opened by saying the team was taken aback by the Bengals’ pursuit of Flacco, who was benched last week after throwing six interceptions in his first four starts.
‘The Joe trade took us by surprise,’ Stefanski said. ‘That was not something we saw coming. They called us, and it happened very fast.’