NFL news: Browns’ Shedeur Sanders to start vs 49ers
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Shedeur Sanders will start for the Cleveland Browns in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday.
Stefanski was initially noncommittal about giving Sanders another shot as the starter. But after a few hours of consideration, he was awarded the two-time Coach of the Year award.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) runs with the ball in the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 23, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
“Obviously the No. 1 job of a quarterback is to win,” Stefanski told reporters. “So we were excited to get his first win, and the next thing was improvement. That’s what young players do. Of course, that’s what young quarterbacks do. You get better one play at a time, and that’s just by working at it. So, that’s going to be our focus.”
Sanders had flashes in the Browns’ 24-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, but he completed only 55% of his passes. He threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Sampson, who made a great play to get past the defense and break up the score.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) talks with head coach Kevin Stefanski during the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 23, 2025. (Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images)
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Stefanski said he thought the offense did a good job “overall” and praised Sanders’ confidence that he can keep up with the pace of the NFL.
Sanders vowed Sunday to prove all of his critics wrong.
“Everybody starts from different places. Like I said, just because I wasn’t getting summer reps, I wasn’t in the best shape to go out there and go from a summer standpoint; that’s life,” he said. “Not everyone is in the best shape. But that’s no excuse. I’ve got to go out there and perform. There’s no other option. There’s no question.
“No one cares if it’s a week of preparation. Who cares? I mean, a lot of people want to see me fail; it’s not going to happen. It’s not going to happen.”
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Cleveland selected Sanders in the fifth round of the draft out of Colorado. He has moved up the depth chart since his time in organized team activities during the regular season.
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