A Rough Sunday in New York
The Cleveland Browns dropped another game on Sunday, falling 27–20 to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium and slipping to a disappointing 2–7 on the season. Their rookie quarterback, Dillon Gabriel — a third-round pick out of Oregon — completed 17 of 32 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Importantly, he avoided throwing an interception, but he was sacked six times for 47 yards. The turnovers were absent, but the lack of protection and inability to generate a consistent rhythm were glaring.
Fan Frustration Brews: Calls for Shedeur Sanders
Given the sustained struggles of the Browns’ offense, fans have been vocal on X (formerly Twitter) calling for Shedeur Sanders—the rookie QB taken later in the draft—to be given a chance. Posts captured sentiments like:
“Just play Shedeur in the second half, this is so dumb.”
“If there isn’t any progress by the end of the 1st quarter, just put Shedeur in. See what you have with him. Literally nothing to lose.”
“Y’all won’t win another game until y’all play Shedeur.”
“The Browns/NFL hate Shedeur Sanders so much they’d rather lose every game with Dillon Gabriel than even give Shedeur a look at the field, smh.”
These voices reflect a growing impatience among the fanbase, who view Sanders as a potential spark and feel the current starter has yet to deliver consistency.
Online coverage backs up this tension. A recent piece described how Sanders remains the backup, despite Gabriel’s ongoing struggles, and how the optics of the situation are causing frustration.
Coach Kevin Stefanski’s Stance
Head coach Kevin Stefanski reaffirmed after the game that the Browns will continue with Gabriel as the starter. “We’re going to stick with Dillon (Gabriel),” he told reporters.
Stefanski added further context:
“With a young quarterback, you know there are going to be ups and downs … we need to be better in every area, including how we’re putting these guys in position to succeed.”
Despite acknowledging the team’s struggles, he appears committed to giving Gabriel time to grow rather than rushing a change at QB.
Why Are Fans So Focused on Sanders?
Here are the major threads driving the narrative:
- Draft & expectations: Shedeur Sanders was a high-profile college quarterback whose slide into the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft raised eyebrows.
- Media & optics: His status and pedigree — as the son of legendary athlete Deion Sanders — bring added attention and scrutiny. A recent article noted how a pre-game sideline encounter involving Sanders drew significant fan reaction.
- Gabriel’s performance: The starter’s struggles — including limited downfield attack and protection issues — have amplified calls for change.
- Frustration with status-quo: Many fans feel that with nothing to lose, the team should at least test Sanders in game situations rather than continue to rely on a starter who has yet to lead the offense to stability.
The Bigger Picture: Prospects & Patience
While the Browns’ decision to stick with Gabriel is clear, the broader challenge remains: how long will patience last? A few factors stand out:
- Development vs. performance: Young quarterbacks often face bumps in the transition to the NFL. Stefanski emphasised this.
- Internal competition: Sanders remains behind Gabriel (and possibly other QBs) on the depth chart, limiting his opportunities to show what he can do.
- Media distractions: Some articles flag that Sanders has faced media scrutiny, including issues around his conduct in interviews or public interactions.
- Team trajectory: With the Browns at 2-7 and likely facing heavy scrutiny themselves, the pressure on each decision is magnified.
What to Watch Going Forward
- Next starts for Gabriel: Can he show meaningful improvement in decision-making, ball distribution, and avoiding sacks?
- Sanders’ readiness signal: Does he get more reps, or even a cameo in a game scenario? Any shift might signal a change is coming.
- Team messaging: Will the Browns provide more transparency about their QB evaluation process?
- Fan narrative: Will the chorus for Sanders grow louder if the team continues to lose or stagnate?
The Cleveland Browns are navigating a delicate balancing act — honoring their stated commitment to Dillon Gabriel while being aware of mounting fan unrest and the growing potential of Shedeur Sanders. Whether this stance remains sustainable will depend heavily on results in the coming weeks.
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