During a joint practice session between the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, Bills safety CJ Gardner-Johnson reportedly taunted Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, calling him a "check-down king." Gardner-Johnson, who was not participating in the practice, allegedly made the comments from the opposing sideline.
Another Bills defender was also reportedly heard yelling, "This s--t check-down city!" according to ESPN reporter Daniel Oyefusi. While the comments may have been intended to provoke Sanders, the Browns quarterback was reportedly performing well during the practice. Browns reporter Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram shared a video of Sanders completing a 50-yard pass to Malachi Corley, which appeared to be a touchdown. ESPN's tracking indicated Sanders completed 13 of 23 passes, though other reports suggest he also threw a touchdown pass to rookie K.C. Concepcion.
In contrast, Deshaun Watson, another quarterback competing for the starting role with the Browns, reportedly went 12 of 17 with one touchdown and one interception during his practice reps. The joint practices are serving as a final tune-up for both teams before the regular season begins. The Browns, in particular, are still evaluating their quarterback situation, and Saturday's preseason game against the Bills could be significant in determining their plans at the position.