Ravens' LaJohntay Wester predicts Colorado teammate Shedeur Sanders will start for Browns
The Ravens took Colorado wide receiver LaJohntay Wester in the sixth round of the draft, and he was happy to hear his name called on Day Three. But he wasn't happy that his college quarterback had to wait until Day Three to hear his name called as well.
Wester said his teammate Shedeur Sanders should have been picked far earlier than the fifth round, and he's confident Sanders is going to make a whole lot of teams regret passing on him when he becomes the Browns' starting quarterback.
'I was disappointed that they did him like that,' Wester said, via the Ravens' website. 'I know Shedeur is going to get in the lab. He's going to work hard and he's going to win that job in Cleveland.'
Wester is best known for catching a Hail Mary from Sanders to force overtime in a win over Baylor last season, but he said he didn't do anything he doesn't expect to do every time he takes the field.
'At the end of the day, in my eyes, it was just me making a play,' Wester said. 'To other people, it was a clutch play. And they probably would never imagine a guy like me, a small guy, to be able to make a big-time play like that. But to me, it's nothing new. I'm very confident in my game.'
Wester is confident he's going to make a big impact in Baltimore. And that he'll be facing off against Sanders twice a season for years to come.
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Associated Press
18 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Shedeur Sanders is preaching patience as he settles in as the Browns' 4th-string QB
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Shedeur Sanders is used to his every move being scrutinized. But one thing he hasn't been accustomed to is not getting all the snaps in practice. In his first couple of months in the NFL, Sanders has had to learn what life is like as a fourth-string quarterback. 'I'm managing it real well,' Sanders said Tuesday after the Cleveland Browns completed their first practice of their mandatory minicamp. 'I would say it's just a mindset, this adjustment. You got to go and understand the situation that you're in and be able to approach that and get the best out of it. You could view things as you're not getting reps in a negative way, or you could view it as, OK, when is my time to get out there? Let's be proactive and let's get going.' Sanders has shown steady progress since he was selected in the fifth round (144th overall) by the Browns and reported for the team's rookie minicamp on May 9. With Joe Flacco's workload reduced on Tuesday, Sanders got his first extensive snaps in full-team drills during practices that were open to the media. On the final snap, Sanders connected with Luke Floriea on a skinny post route while under pressure. One highlight came during a 7-on-7 drill when he threw a deep ball up the right sideline to Gage Larvadin with cornerback Dom Jones in coverage. Another big adjustment for Sanders is trying to get through his progressions quicker so that he avoids sacks. Sanders was sacked 94 times over his last two seasons at Colorado, the most by a QB in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and that contributed to his drop in the draft. 'It's definitely going through the progressions and getting comfortable and knowing the ins and outs of everything. So, when you go on the field, I already have a different type of confidence by myself, regardless,' he said, adding that when training camp begins, 'I'll be there.' Coach Kevin Stefanski said going through progressions is a bedrock of offensive efficiency, but mastering that skill can take time. 'Being able to get through a progression is not as easy as it sounds. Your eyes are studying the defenders and seeing what they're doing, and then ultimately, you're listening to your feet,' Stefanski said. 'To quote an old Gary Kubiak line, you have a prescribed drop for a play, and that drop, and those hitches will take you where the ball is supposed to go.' While some Browns fans would love to see him start the Sept. 7 opener against the Cincinnati Bengals — or soon thereafter — Sanders said his goal is to become as polished as he can. 'I got time to be able to grow and mature and be able to understand the ins and outs of the defenses and be able to get the good insight from the vets in the room,' he said. 'So, I look at it as a plus. I got time to actually be able to really have a great understanding. And whenever, you know, it's time for me to play, then it's time for me to play. 'But I'm not looking too far in the future about all that. I'm looking about every day in practice because I had some misses out there today that, you know, we got to go in there and correct, reads getting in and out drops a little bit faster from under center. So that's the main thing. I'm focused on the small things, and over time, the big things will happen.' One questions Sanders did not answer was about the health of his father — Pro Football Hall of Famer and Colorado coach Deion Sanders. The elder Sanders has not attended football camps at Colorado and discussed some health challenges on a recent podcast. ___ AP NFL:
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders focused on making steady improvement at Browns minicamp
BEREA, Ohio — Tuesday's practice was for the rookies, as the Cleveland Browns opened their mandatory minicamp and moved to the next phase of their four-man quarterback competition. Joe Flacco, the old man of the group at 40 years old and 17 seasons of experience, took no reps in competitive drills. Kenny Pickett, who turned 27 last week, was first in the warmup lines and first up in the late-practice red zone drill. But rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders got most of the passing work, and Gabriel was first up when the Browns' first-team offensive and defensive units took the field for the first 11-on-11 work of minicamp. Advertisement The Browns drafted Gabriel in the third round in April and took Sanders 50 picks later in the fifth round. Though the total number of reps the rookies have taken in previous practices open to reporters was close to equal, Sanders has worked only with backups, while Gabriel has mixed in with the starters both in organized team activities and now in full-squad minicamp. As he's done since rookie minicamp in May, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski continues to stress development and teaching points over actual evaluation at this stage of the competition. Sanders told reporters Tuesday that he's not worried about his current place in line. day one done ✅ — Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 10, 2025 'My goal is to be the best teammate and to be as prepared as I can be,' Sanders said. 'So in every aspect I view things as I've got time — time to be able to grow and mature and be able to understand the ins and outs of defenses, be able to get the good insight from the vets in the (quarterback) room. 'I look at it as a plus. I've got time to actually be able to really have a great understanding of things, and whenever it is time for me to play, then it's time for me to play. But I'm not looking too far into the future about all that. I'm looking at every day in practice. I had some misses out there today that we've got to go in there and correct — reads, getting in and out of drops a little bit faster from under center. So that's the main thing. I'm focused on the small things, and over time, the big things will happen.' Whether Flacco mostly serving as an on-field mentor is a sign that he's leading the competition is open to interpretation. The same goes for just about every other aspect of things. Though the Browns splitting two groups on different practice fields to maximize reps and using linemen in 7-on-7 drills to simulate a crowded pocket has made spring practices at least a little bit unconventional, they're still spring practices. Three quarterbacks are new to the team, and Flacco is returning from a year in Indianapolis following his magical December 2023 run with Cleveland. Advertisement 'Just trying to be intentional about everything,' Stefanski said. 'Certainly, Joe had fewer reps today. That's obviously on purpose, and just trying to find out, get as much of an evaluation on the guys as we can. 'I'm pleased with all the young guys and their development. There's a lot that goes into this, and these guys work extremely hard. There are things in the NFL game that are just different. I think all these guys are making really good progress.' Gabriel was a bit erratic early in Tuesday's practice, but he was more accurate with his throws as the session went on. Gabriel's highlight throw came on a well-placed corner route to Jamari Thrash in a red zone 7-on-7 drill, while Sanders' best throw was probably his first: a deep ball over the middle to Gage Larvadain in the team's early 7-on-7 session. in stride and on time ⌚️ @ShedeurSanders — Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 10, 2025 'Practice is no different than normal — what we grew up doing and what we did in college,' Sanders said. 'I just feel like I'm back in my element. It's fresh grass, you hear the birds outside, you understand what peace is at this point in life. So I'm back in my element. I'm excited to be here. 'Of course, I feel more comfortable here (now). I would say it is just a mindset, just an adjustment. You've got to go and understand the situation that you're in and be able to approach that and get the best out of it. There's no excuses, because when you get out there, nobody cares how many reps you got whenever you get in the game. Nobody cares if you took a snap before. Everybody cares about production. So that's the main thing when you get out there, you've got to be able to produce.' Gabriel and Sanders said they've relied on Flacco for advice on reading defenses and mastering the playbook. They've both stressed that the quarterback room is more fun than it is competitive, and that all four passers enjoy the process of installing and learning the offense. 'I think for the most part, it's more getting (Flacco and Pickett's) experiences, whether it's a certain concept or what they've done in the past, just as part of a daily routine,' Gabriel said. 'But it's also just shooting the s— and just being the guys, because I think that's when you're able to just connect in the most authentic way.' Advertisement Gabriel said his focus remains on 'continuous improvement' and that he's learning 'every single day.' As the Browns conclude minicamp with practices Wednesday and Thursday, Sanders said his approach remains similar. 'I know every day there's room for improvement in a lot of different areas in my game,' Sanders said. 'So I never feel full. I would say I'm always hungry, and there's a lot of aspects in football that I could get better at. 'It's the weight room. It's knowing the plays. It's physically … throwing different, trying to always get more precise with things. So I feel like I put in my day's work, but I know I'm far from where I want to be.'
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
JK Dobbins signs with Broncos, bolstering running back position: Source
The Denver Broncos added to a reshaped backfield Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year deal with veteran running back JK Dobbins, a team source with knowledge of the agreement confirmed. The deal is worth as much as $5.25 million, the source said, and adds an experienced player to what is shaping up to be a competitive running backs room for the Broncos once training camp begins. The Broncos allowed last year's leading rusher, Javonte Williams, to leave in free agency and then used their second-round pick to select former Central Florida running back RJ Harvey. Advertisement Broncos coach Sean Payton said after Tuesday's minicamp practice that the Broncos were 'close' to an agreement with Dobbins, and the team source then confirmed the deal was being wrapped up just before the workout had concluded. Dobbins, who rushed for a career-high 905 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games during his lone season with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024, visited Denver's practice facility for two days last week. Before the Broncos signed Dobbins, 26, their most experienced running back was Jaleel McLaughlin, an undrafted player in 2023 who is entering his third season with the Broncos and was second on the team in touches in 2024. Audric Estimé, a fifth-round pick last year, and former undrafted players Tyler Badie and Blake Watson round out the current room. 'He's a good back, especially when healthy,' said Broncos safety Brandon Jones, who spoke to the media Tuesday shortly after the signing took place. 'We kind of go back a little bit in high school and college, so I'm very familiar with him as a person and his game on the field. He's a baller. He's one of the running backs who had one of the better games against us last year. I'm super excited for him to be here.' The game Dobbins had against the Broncos came in Week 6 last season. He rushed for 96 yards and one touchdown in a 23-16 victory for the Chargers. He missed the second game between the two teams in December as he dealt with a knee injury. Dobbins, a second-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2020, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. After a promising rookie year (925 total yards, nine touchdowns), he missed all of the 2021 season and half of the 2022 campaign with a major knee injury. The multi-ligament injury was similar to the one suffered by Williams, the former Broncos running back, in 2022. Dobbins also missed all but one game during the 2023 season with an Achilles injury. He missed four games last season, but his production was enough to make him a finalist for the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award, which ultimately went to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. JK DOBBINS. GO-AHEAD TD WITH 18 SECONDS LEFT. 📺: #CINvsLAC on NBC/Peacock📱: Stream on #NFLPlus — NFL (@NFL) November 18, 2024 Asked how the Broncos evaluated Dobbins' injury history, Payton said: 'Just like we evaluate everyone else's.' The Broncos have made it a major offseason priority to improve their rushing offense. Denver ranked 21st in the NFL in yards per rush (4.1) and 18th in TruMedia's rushing EPA (expected points added) metric. The team's running backs had only 35 rushing yards on 11 carries in a 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Advertisement When Dobbins visited the team during OTAs, Payton said the interest in the running back wasn't a reflection of how the team felt about its young depth at the position. 'It's another good football player that we've seen firsthand,' Payton said. 'I've seen him for a while. The importance of that position group, we really like the group we're working with, (but) it's just another opportunity to possibly bring in another good football player who can help us win.'
