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San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Shedeur Sanders unfazed by lack of first-team reps at Browns camp
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — If Shedeur Sanders is frustrated about not receiving any snaps with the first team during the first week of the Cleveland Browns' training camp, he isn't showing it. Sanders said on Friday that it is out of his control and not his place to answer why he has worked mainly with the third and fourth teams during the first three days of practice. 'I'm not even going to think about that or have that even in my thought process of why it is,' Sanders said. 'It doesn't make me feel down or it doesn't make me feel left out or anything because I know who I am as a person. I know who I am as an individual, and I know what I could bring to this team.' Sanders — selected by the Browns in the fifth round after a precipitous fall in April's draft — did get some work with the second team for the first time on Friday. He had one of the best throws of the 80-minute practice on a completion down the middle to tight end Blake Whiteheart during 11-on-11 drills. Sanders showed he could bounce back after a bad day of practice. He was unable to throw a pass during a four-play red zone drill on Thursday after snap issues on two plays, a false start, and what would have been a sack. 'I know whenever I get my opportunity, I've got to maximize it,' he said. 'I just got to think about what I could do to get better even if I'm not getting reps.' Coach Kevin Stefanski didn't say if Sanders would receive any first-team snaps. Stefanski did note, though, that he has been happy with Sanders' progress over the past couple of months. 'Yeah, I think Shedeur does a nice job of keeping the main thing, the main thing. He's working hard and keeping his head down,' Stefanski said. There have been 13 sets of 11-on-11 drills during the first three days. Joe Flacco has had the most work with the first team with seven, Kenny Pickett has had five and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel one. Flacco and Pickett are the two main combatants in the four-man competition to see who will be the starter for the Sept. 7 opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. All four are getting plenty of snaps on the two practice fields, but there is a difference in who they are working with. Sanders said the one advantage of not getting many snaps is that he has had the opportunity to learn more in-depth about everything instead of on the fly like he did at Jackson State and Colorado, where his father, Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, instantly made him the starter. Shedeur Sanders added that the area where he has made the most improvement is being more comfortable with the playbook. 'It's always consistent growth, and it always feels like I just solved a puzzle or anything, like, all the time,' he said. Quarterback coach Bill Musgrave — who was Deion Sanders' teammate during San Francisco's Super Bowl-winning season in 1994 — has been impressed with Sanders' ability to call the play in the huddle as well as calling plays under center. He also added he has seen the same progress from Gabriel, a third-round pick. When it comes to the outside pressures Sanders might face — including heightened expectations from fans — Musgrave said that everyone has pressure, but the approach has to remain the same. 'The focus has got to be on the techniques, the five-step drop, the seven-step drop, being accurate with our throws,' Musgrave said. 'If we can focus on our trade, the external factors take a back seat, which is where they should remain.' While some may waver from the expectations, Sanders has embraced them. He has made a couple of appearances in the Cleveland area, including hosting a community event to benefit residents displaced after an apartment complex fire. He also accepted responsibility for two speeding tickets last month. However, things that are happening off the field are the last thing on Sanders' mind over the next five weeks. 'The external is cool. I'm thankful for it,' he said. 'But hey, when I get out there, I'm not thinking about external. I'm thinking about more, in the organization, thinking about getting the play calls, executing my job, and doing what I've got to do.' ___
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Shedeur Sanders unfazed by lack of first-team reps at Browns camp
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — If Shedeur Sanders is frustrated about not receiving any snaps with the first team during the first week of the Cleveland Browns' training camp, he isn't showing it. Sanders said on Friday that it is out of his control and not his place to answer why he has worked mainly with the third and fourth teams during the first three days of practice. 'I'm not even going to think about that or have that even in my thought process of why it is,' Sanders said. 'It doesn't make me feel down or it doesn't make me feel left out or anything because I know who I am as a person. I know who I am as an individual, and I know what I could bring to this team.' Sanders — selected by the Browns in the fifth round after a precipitous fall in April's draft — did get some work with the second team for the first time on Friday. He had one of the best throws of the 80-minute practice on a completion down the middle to tight end Blake Whiteheart during 11-on-11 drills. Sanders showed he could bounce back after a bad day of practice. He was unable to throw a pass during a four-play red zone drill on Thursday after snap issues on two plays, a false start, and what would have been a sack. 'I know whenever I get my opportunity, I've got to maximize it,' he said. 'I just got to think about what I could do to get better even if I'm not getting reps.' Coach Kevin Stefanski didn't say if Sanders would receive any first-team snaps. Stefanski did note, though, that he has been happy with Sanders' progress over the past couple of months. 'Yeah, I think Shedeur does a nice job of keeping the main thing, the main thing. He's working hard and keeping his head down,' Stefanski said. There have been 13 sets of 11-on-11 drills during the first three days. Joe Flacco has had the most work with the first team with seven, Kenny Pickett has had five and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel one. Flacco and Pickett are the two main combatants in the four-man competition to see who will be the starter for the Sept. 7 opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. All four are getting plenty of snaps on the two practice fields, but there is a difference in who they are working with. Sanders said the one advantage of not getting many snaps is that he has had the opportunity to learn more in-depth about everything instead of on the fly like he did at Jackson State and Colorado, where his father, Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, instantly made him the starter. Shedeur Sanders added that the area where he has made the most improvement is being more comfortable with the playbook. 'It's always consistent growth, and it always feels like I just solved a puzzle or anything, like, all the time,' he said. Quarterback coach Bill Musgrave — who was Deion Sanders' teammate during San Francisco's Super Bowl-winning season in 1994 — has been impressed with Sanders' ability to call the play in the huddle as well as calling plays under center. He also added he has seen the same progress from Gabriel, a third-round pick. When it comes to the outside pressures Sanders might face — including heightened expectations from fans — Musgrave said that everyone has pressure, but the approach has to remain the same. 'The focus has got to be on the techniques, the five-step drop, the seven-step drop, being accurate with our throws,' Musgrave said. 'If we can focus on our trade, the external factors take a back seat, which is where they should remain.' While some may waver from the expectations, Sanders has embraced them. He has made a couple of appearances in the Cleveland area, including hosting a community event to benefit residents displaced after an apartment complex fire. He also accepted responsibility for two speeding tickets last month. However, things that are happening off the field are the last thing on Sanders' mind over the next five weeks. 'The external is cool. I'm thankful for it,' he said. 'But hey, when I get out there, I'm not thinking about external. I'm thinking about more, in the organization, thinking about getting the play calls, executing my job, and doing what I've got to do.' ___ AP NFL:
Fox Sports
4 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Shedeur Sanders unfazed by lack of first-team reps at Browns camp
Associated Press BEREA, Ohio (AP) — If Shedeur Sanders is frustrated about not receiving any snaps with the first team during the first week of the Cleveland Browns' training camp, he isn't showing it. Sanders said on Friday that it is out of his control and not his place to answer why he has worked mainly with the third and fourth teams during the first three days of practice. 'I'm not even going to think about that or have that even in my thought process of why it is,' Sanders said. 'It doesn't make me feel down or it doesn't make me feel left out or anything because I know who I am as a person. I know who I am as an individual, and I know what I could bring to this team.' Sanders — selected by the Browns in the fifth round after a precipitous fall in April's draft — did get some work with the second team for the first time on Friday. He had one of the best throws of the 80-minute practice on a completion down the middle to tight end Blake Whiteheart during 11-on-11 drills. Sanders showed he could bounce back after a bad day of practice. He was unable to throw a pass during a four-play red zone drill on Thursday after snap issues on two plays, a false start, and what would have been a sack. 'I know whenever I get my opportunity, I've got to maximize it,' he said. 'I just got to think about what I could do to get better even if I'm not getting reps.' Coach Kevin Stefanski didn't say if Sanders would receive any first-team snaps. Stefanski did note, though, that he has been happy with Sanders' progress over the past couple of months. 'Yeah, I think Shedeur does a nice job of keeping the main thing, the main thing. He's working hard and keeping his head down,' Stefanski said. There have been 13 sets of 11-on-11 drills during the first three days. Joe Flacco has had the most work with the first team with seven, Kenny Pickett has had five and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel one. Flacco and Pickett are the two main combatants in the four-man competition to see who will be the starter for the Sept. 7 opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. All four are getting plenty of snaps on the two practice fields, but there is a difference in who they are working with. Sanders said the one advantage of not getting many snaps is that he has had the opportunity to learn more in-depth about everything instead of on the fly like he did at Jackson State and Colorado, where his father, Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, instantly made him the starter. Shedeur Sanders added that the area where he has made the most improvement is being more comfortable with the playbook. 'It's always consistent growth, and it always feels like I just solved a puzzle or anything, like, all the time,' he said. Quarterback coach Bill Musgrave — who was Deion Sanders' teammate during San Francisco's Super Bowl-winning season in 1994 — has been impressed with Sanders' ability to call the play in the huddle as well as calling plays under center. He also added he has seen the same progress from Gabriel, a third-round pick. When it comes to the outside pressures Sanders might face — including heightened expectations from fans — Musgrave said that everyone has pressure, but the approach has to remain the same. 'The focus has got to be on the techniques, the five-step drop, the seven-step drop, being accurate with our throws,' Musgrave said. 'If we can focus on our trade, the external factors take a back seat, which is where they should remain.' While some may waver from the expectations, Sanders has embraced them. He has made a couple of appearances in the Cleveland area, including hosting a community event to benefit residents displaced after an apartment complex fire. He also accepted responsibility for two speeding tickets last month. However, things that are happening off the field are the last thing on Sanders' mind over the next five weeks. 'The external is cool. I'm thankful for it,' he said. 'But hey, when I get out there, I'm not thinking about external. I'm thinking about more, in the organization, thinking about getting the play calls, executing my job, and doing what I've got to do.' ___ AP NFL: recommended Item 1 of 3
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Shedeur Sanders unfazed by lack of first-team reps at Browns camp
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — If Shedeur Sanders is frustrated about not receiving any snaps with the first team during the first week of the Cleveland Browns' training camp, he isn't showing it. Sanders said on Friday that it is out of his control and not his place to answer why he has worked mainly with the third and fourth teams during the first three days of practice. 'I'm not even going to think about that or have that even in my thought process of why it is,' Sanders said. 'It doesn't make me feel down or it doesn't make me feel left out or anything because I know who I am as a person. I know who I am as an individual, and I know what I could bring to this team.' Sanders — selected by the Browns in the fifth round after a precipitous fall in April's draft — did get some work with the second team for the first time on Friday. He had one of the best throws of the 80-minute practice on a completion down the middle to tight end Blake Whiteheart during 11-on-11 drills. Sanders showed he could bounce back after a bad day of practice. He was unable to throw a pass during a four-play red zone drill on Thursday after snap issues on two plays, a false start, and what would have been a sack. 'I know whenever I get my opportunity, I've got to maximize it,' he said. 'I just got to think about what I could do to get better even if I'm not getting reps.' Coach Kevin Stefanski didn't say if Sanders would receive any first-team snaps. Stefanski did note, though, that he has been happy with Sanders' progress over the past couple of months. 'Yeah, I think Shedeur does a nice job of keeping the main thing, the main thing. He's working hard and keeping his head down,' Stefanski said. There have been 13 sets of 11-on-11 drills during the first three days. Joe Flacco has had the most work with the first team with seven, Kenny Pickett has had five and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel one. Flacco and Pickett are the two main combatants in the four-man competition to see who will be the starter for the Sept. 7 opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. All four are getting plenty of snaps on the two practice fields, but there is a difference in who they are working with. Sanders said the one advantage of not getting many snaps is that he has had the opportunity to learn more in-depth about everything instead of on the fly like he did at Jackson State and Colorado, where his father, Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, instantly made him the starter. Shedeur Sanders added that the area where he has made the most improvement is being more comfortable with the playbook. 'It's always consistent growth, and it always feels like I just solved a puzzle or anything, like, all the time,' he said. Quarterback coach Bill Musgrave — who was Deion Sanders' teammate during San Francisco's Super Bowl-winning season in 1994 — has been impressed with Sanders' ability to call the play in the huddle as well as calling plays under center. He also added he has seen the same progress from Gabriel, a third-round pick. When it comes to the outside pressures Sanders might face — including heightened expectations from fans — Musgrave said that everyone has pressure, but the approach has to remain the same. 'The focus has got to be on the techniques, the five-step drop, the seven-step drop, being accurate with our throws,' Musgrave said. 'If we can focus on our trade, the external factors take a back seat, which is where they should remain.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. While some may waver from the expectations, Sanders has embraced them. He has made a couple of appearances in the Cleveland area, including hosting a community event to benefit residents displaced after an apartment complex fire. He also accepted responsibility for two speeding tickets last month. However, things that are happening off the field are the last thing on Sanders' mind over the next five weeks. 'The external is cool. I'm thankful for it,' he said. 'But hey, when I get out there, I'm not thinking about external. I'm thinking about more, in the organization, thinking about getting the play calls, executing my job, and doing what I've got to do.' ___ AP NFL:
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Browns training camp off to slow start, but plenty of QB drama is still to come
BEREA, Ohio — There will be no rush to judgment regarding either the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation or the team's quest to return to respectability from either inside or outside the training camp ropes. In two days, we've seen pretty standard football practices. The quarterback rotation is interesting but largely unchanged from the spring, and basic introductions have produced almost no offensive fireworks. Advertisement Camp officially opened with practices of about 70 minutes on Wednesday and Thursday, the latter of which took place in temperatures over 90 degrees. The Browns will have their first practices open to fans on Friday and Saturday, and their first padded practice will be on Monday. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski won't say it directly, but having a clear starting quarterback by the fourth week of camp and the Browns' trip to Philadelphia for joint practices with the Eagles seems like a reasonable goal. Kenny Pickett was first in the drill lines in each of the first two practices and first up in 11-on-11 work on Wednesday. As Stefanski promised, Thursday's change put Joe Flacco first up in 11-on-11 work. Dillon Gabriel is clearly third in line ahead of fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders for now. Gabriel is always second or third in drill lines, as Flacco sometimes takes fewer reps because he's the most experienced of the group. Stefanski said he and the coaching staff will evaluate and potentially change rep order and quantity next week. Starting with Monday's first practice in pads, the Browns will have six sessions before they travel to Carolina for an Aug. 6 joint practice with the Panthers. The Browns continue to run simultaneous 7-on-7 drills in practice to maximize (and share) reps. After Thursday's practice, a group of rookies and down-the-depth-chart players remained on the field for some extra 11-on-11 work that saw Sanders then Gabriel each take three reps. Stefanski has said little about his plans for the coming weeks or the Aug. 8 preseason game in Carolina. Probably, those reps will be earned and subsequently awarded based on what happens in the practices that lie directly ahead. Thus far, we've seen a lot of short passes and not many streaks of consecutive completions. Advertisement A Thursday red zone 11-on-11 drill saw Pickett take five snaps with the No. 1 offense versus No. 1 defense, then Gabriel and Sanders each received four snaps with the second and third units. None of those plays produced a touchdown. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, the second of Cleveland's two second-round picks, remains unsigned and away from the team following his July 12 arrest on a domestic violence charge. Stefanski said the Browns take the matter 'very, very seriously' and that the team continues to gather all available information on the incident. On Thursday, Browns general manager Andrew Berry said much of the same while stressing that the Browns won't make any decisions on Judkins' football future until they know more. 'Our initial responsibility as an organization is to gather as much information and particularly quality information as possible,' Berry said. 'Even though it's a highly public incident, rarely does all the information become public or easily accessible, which is why it's so important for us to work through the legal process, work with investigators, obviously communicate and share information with the league. But it's not until that time that we get enough information and enough quality information that we will determine or decide the next steps of what to do with that, with the player or the employee. 'So in terms of Quinshon specifically, we're still gathering information. Sometimes that process occurs quickly. Sometimes the information comes a little bit more slowly, but we're still in really probably the information gathering stage with him, and given the fact that he's still in an active legal situation, there's not much that I can comment specifically on his case at this point.' Last year, Browns second-round pick Mike Hall Jr. was arrested on a domestic violence charge during training camp. Hall pleaded no contest last September and served a five-game suspension, but he was in practice the day after his arrest. In May, Browns linebacker Devin Bush was arrested on charges of harassment and simple assault involving his girlfriend. Bush has a pre-trial hearing set for next month in Pennsylvania. Advertisement 'All these situations are different and unique, and the information that we had at the time with Mike was different than what we have (with Judkins),' Berry said. 'The other thing I'd add is any decision for follow-up — whether it's reintegration or discipline or removal from team activities — those decisions aren't made in a vacuum. Those aren't football decisions. They're with a variety of people that have different expertise, many of whom aren't in football operations. So each situation is different, and I don't think you should necessarily map one to the other.' Berry was asked on Thursday if he envisioned a scenario in which the Browns would not sign Judkins to his rookie contract, essentially relinquishing his rights based on the incident. Berry said the team is dealing with it 'day to day' in learning more about the situation, and that it's too early to know if that's a possibility. It's clear the Browns viewed Judkins as an immediate contributor — and likely their lead back this season. With his playing status unclear, running back joins wide receiver as a position to monitor in the coming weeks for potential external additions. Jerome Ford, the No. 1 running back for now, has missed the first two practices due to what the team has called a minor injury. Stefanski said Ford is 'progressing well,' but he did not give a thorough update. Pierre Strong Jr., who's been a core special teams player the past two seasons, has been first in the running back lines in practice. Fourth-round rookie Dylan Sampson has taken some snaps with the No. 1 and No. 2 offenses. The Browns also have undrafted rookie Ahmani Marshall and fullback Troy Hairston in their running back group. Unless Judkins is participating in practice soon, it's fair to assume the team will add a running back in the coming days as the length and intensity of practices increase. Outside of running back and quarterback, the Browns are pretty locked in with most of their initial starting lineup. At least at this point. The most interesting and competitive non-quarterback position battles figure to come further down the depth chart, though the joint practices almost certainly will bring spice and some unpredictability next month. The offensive line has four longtime starters and Dawand Jones trying to lock down the left tackle spot. Third-year player Isaiah McGuire is running with the No. 1 defense at the end spot opposite Myles Garrett. First-round rookie Mason Graham and newly acquired veteran Maliek Collins are at the tackle spots with the first defense. Advertisement Jordan Hicks, the team's most experienced linebacker, has missed the first two practices due to personal reasons. That's left rookie Carson Schwesinger, Bush and Mohamoud Diabate at linebacker with the first group in the base defense. Greg Newsome II has been at cornerback opposite Denzel Ward in the base defense. Newly acquired defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka worked with the No. 3 defense early in Thursday's practice, but later he was with the starters in the red zone drill as Garrett sat. Safety Grant Delpit intercepted Pickett during a 7-on-7 drill Thursday. A well-placed Flacco fastball along the sideline to Jerry Jeudy drew the attention of onlookers, but defensive players claimed Jeudy was out of bounds. On Wednesday, Gabriel hit undrafted rookie Gage Larvadain on a deep pass after it appeared a defender fell, and Larvadain ran free. Grant taking it the other way! 🔒🙌@realgrantdelpit | #DawgPound — Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 25, 2025 By my unofficial count after two days (and including the Thursday snaps after many veterans left the practice field), the quarterback reps have gone as follows: Pickett: Nine reps in 7-on-7, 14 in competitive 11-on-11 situations (seven called passes) Flacco: Nine reps in 7-on-7, five in competitive 11-on-11 situations (three passes) Gabriel: Nine reps in 7-on-7, 16 in competitive 11-on-11 situations (10 passes) Sanders: Nine reps in 7-on-7, 12 in competitive 11-on-11 situations (seven passes) (Top photo of Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco: Ken Blaze / Imagn Images)
