Then, his contributions and the Browns’ comeback bid came to an abrupt end.
After Sanders closed the Titans’ lead to 31-29 on his third touchdown pass of the day with 1:03 remaining, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski opted to take the rookie quarterback off the field for the potentially game-tying two-point conversion. Instead, rookie running back Quinshon Judkins took the snap in a Wildcat package and bobbled the ball right when it appeared as though a pitch would materialize. Judkins backtracked and tried to fire a pass to the opposite side of the field, but his attempt was broken up by a defender and fell incomplete, all but securing Tennessee’s second win of the season.
Afterward, Stefanski offered scant details on the strategy behind the call or the decision to take Sanders off the field, but said he deserved blame for the outcome rather than offensive coordinator and play-caller Tommy Rees.
‘Not gonna get into all the specifics, but obviously did not go as we thought it would,’ said Stefanski, later adding, ‘I’m responsible for all of it.’
Sanders, who finished with four total touchdowns (three rushing, one passing) and 364 yards on 23-of-42 passing, largely shrugged off being removed from the game.
‘If I’m out there any play, I wish I would always have the ball in my hand, but that’s not what football is,’ Sanders said. ‘Sometimes you got to run the ball, sometimes you got to kick a field goal. … I know we practiced something and executed in practice, and we just didn’t seem to execute it today. So I would never go against what the call was or anything.’
Sanders’ outing was not without error, as he threw an ill-advised interception late in the third quarter that led to the Titans’ go-ahead touchdown. But Stefanski, who last week wouldn’t commit to Sanders starting beyond the game against the Titans, saw plenty of promising highs from the fifth-round draft pick.
‘He fought throughout the game, which we knew he would,’ Stefanski said. ‘Obviously with any young player, there’s going to be ups and downs, and I though there were some really, really, really good moments. He’ll keep learning from some of the plays he wants back, but (there were) some really good moments.’