Shedeur Sanders experienced a difficult outing in his first preseason test for the Cleveland Browns, throwing a critical interception that contributed to a 34-10 defeat against the Chicago Bears on Saturday. The loss amplified existing concerns surrounding the Browns' quarterback situation as the competition for the starting role continues.
Sanders played in the third and early fourth quarters, completing 6 of 11 passes for 79 yards. However, his performance was largely defined by an overthrown pass intended for Malachi Corley that was intercepted by the Bears' Beanie Bishop Jr. early in the final period.
Following the game, social media was flooded with criticism from Browns fans directed at Sanders. Comments on X voiced concerns about his accuracy and decision-making, with one user stating, "This ain't the time for mistakes, he gotta play like his NFL life depends on EVERY snap… because right now, IT DOES." Another fan questioned his readiness for a starting role, noting, "Holds the ball too long, inaccurate throws, runs backwards. I think he is a backup at best."
Sanders, who started seven games as a rookie in 2025, acknowledged the play after the game. "It was the right read," he said. "It just slipped. ... I just didn't execute the decision, but the right decision was made."
Meanwhile, veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson started the game for Cleveland, leading the team on two scoring drives in the first half, which saw the Browns tied with the Bears at halftime. Watson finished the first half 11 for 15 for 126 yards but also lost a fumble in his first game appearance in nearly two years.
Dillon Gabriel also saw action in the fourth quarter after Sanders' interception, completing 5 of 8 passes for 23 yards.
Head coach Todd Monken expressed a measured view of the quarterback play, stating, "There were some things operationally that I know we can clean up, but I thought at moments we threw the ball well, and that's what we needed to see."
However, the general sentiment among NFL observers and fans online was less optimistic. Former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz commented on X, "Holy shit Gabriel. That was awful. lol. The Browns QB room is a wreck." Annie Agar shared a similar sentiment, tweeting, "preseason update: the browns have like 10 QBs on their roster and they all suck." Former quarterback Robert Griffin III added to the discussion, noting, "The Cleveland Browns seem to always be in a QB battle and always manage it in the absolutely worst imaginable way possible."