Kevin Stefanski Has No Say in Browns’ QB Decision Amid Shedeur Sanders Announcement, Per Insider

For Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, who has dealt with veteran personalities and high-stakes quarterback controversies before, managing rookie Shedeur Sanders alongside Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel was never going to be simple. Yet even with the intrigue of Sanders’s presence, Stefanski’s role in shaping the Browns’ quarterback depth chart may be more limited than outsiders expect.

It is not Stefanski calling the shots when it comes to quarterback decisions for the Browns, according to The Athletic Football Show’s Robert Mays. The brutal early-season schedule—the opener against the Bengals and then into the gauntlet of Ravens, Packers, Lions, Vikings, and Steelers has essentially dictated the plan. “Joe Flacco was always gonna play the first game,” Mays said. He said that, even if the Browns think Gabriel might be available down the road, they won’t risk having the rookie feed into that opening stretch. The logic is clear: make the veteran take the hits, and hold back the younger arms for reserve until the latter stages of the season. Despite all his planning and preparation, Stefanski isn’t the one making that decision.

This is less about the coach’s preference and more about the team’s overall approach. The Browns do not gain anything by putting Gabriel or Sanders into tough matchups early. This is especially true with the team’s defense, which, under Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, is going to carry the load. “You can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube,” Mays said. Meanwhile, the Browns will ride with Flacco and take the quarterback discussion further down the schedule, whether Stefanski would prefer that or not.

Nonetheless, Stefanski has consistently expressed confidence in his quarterback room. The Browns traded Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders, officially promoting Dillon Gabriel to Flacco’s primary backup. “We feel comfortable with Dillon serving that role,” Stefanski said. “Kenny’s a guy I think very highly of, and I wish him well. He’s a really good football player, but those are the type of decisions that you have to make.” Flacco’s veteran presence can give the team time, but Gabriel still is going to see real snaps once the schedule lightens and the season starts bending toward development.

Adding another wrinkle to the situation is Deshaun Watson. Still nursing a torn Achilles, the $230 million quarterback has been put on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, putting him out for at least the initial four games. Though his timeline is unclear, Watson has remained engaged in meetings and workouts, a presence Brown has appreciated. “Deshaun’s doing awesome, he’s doing great,” Brown said. “I get to be in the meeting room with him every single day. So, he’s doing great.” Hopes remain that Watson can get back later in the season, though that only complicates matters at quarterback.

Shedeur Sanders’ spot clarified

In the midst of quarterback shuffling, the Browns broke news on August 30 by adding Bailey Zappe to their practice squad. The signing generated rumors that Shedeur Sanders’ status could be in question. But Kevin Stefanski moved quickly to dispel that idea. Asked directly about the emergency quarterback spot, he answered instantly: “Shedeur.”

The signing of Zappe was a matter of insurance, not reconfiguring. Stefanski described Zappe as a familiar face, one the staff knows well and trusts to be ready if injuries thin out the room. “I got to spend a lot of time with Bailey last season. Really talented kid, fits in well, works very hard. So glad he’s back,” Stefanski said. ”I think you’ve got to make sure that room is strong in numbers. We like Bailey, what he brings, and being around him, know what he’s about. But that’s all it is.”

For Sanders, the announcement ensures that his developmental track remains intact. He’ll serve as the emergency quarterback on game days, staying active without being asked to handle most of the snaps. For a player of his caliber, that’s both maddening and a required step. The Browns want him to learn, not wear himself out behind a weak offensive line facing one of the toughest defenses.

The Browns start the season Sept. 7 at the Bengals, a test of whether Flacco’s veteran hand can stabilize the offense long enough for Cleveland’s defense to take over. As for Sanders, his turn will come, but not when the Browns believe the time is right. And no matter how much Kevin Stefanski may want to rush the process, this is one quarterback call that he doesn’t get to make.