Shedeur Sanders named Browns backup QB for Week 6

Shedeur Sanders was elevated to the Cleveland Browns' No. 2 quarterback on Friday and will back up starter Dillon Gabriel in Sunday’s Week 6 game at Acrisure Stadium after the team traded veteran Joe Flacco earlier in the week. Head coach Kevin Stefanski announced the move following practice, saying, "Shedeur will be the backup," and that the decision was driven by what he believes is best for player development.

The shift follows a rapid shakeup in Cleveland’s quarterback room. Flacco, who began the season as the starter, was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals after being benched in favor of Gabriel. Gabriel, a rookie third-round pick, will make his second start Sunday after replacing Flacco; Stefanski said he weighed whether to elevate practice squad quarterback Bailey Zappe but ultimately decided to promote Sanders from third string to the active roster role.

Sanders, a fifth-round pick out of Colorado and the son of former NFL star Deion Sanders, began the season lower on the depth chart and had not appeared in a regular-season game. He has been vocal about his readiness, telling reporters this week, "Im in a great mental space overall," and "Im overly confident within...