The 2025 season is a couple of weeks old. But in the case of Shedeur Sanders, we have to rewind to the roster cutdown day. It told us one thing about the fifth-rounder, Kevin Stefanski slotted Shedeur in as Cleveland’s emergency quarterback, stuck behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel. Translation? He was supposed to spend his time running scout team reps. However, the Browns‘ insider Tony Rizzo wasn’t buying that narrative.

He flat-out claimed Shedeur wasn’t even touching those scout team snaps. It sounded bold, but was it true, though? CBS analyst and former NFL lineman Ross Tucker might not agree with Rizzo’s statement. Following the Browns’ ugly loss to the Ravens, Tucker revealed that he spoke directly with the Browns and confirmed that the team has a specific plan for the 23-year-old rookie.

“They have an airtight plan down to the minute for those guys,” Tucker said on the broadcast during Sunday’s game between the division rivals. “Down to the minute. They run an extra period after practice so Shedeur can get 8-10 reps every day.” Ever since the Browns picked the Colorado product in the fifth round of the draft, the debate around the QB’s development is palpable.

Though many argue that Shedeur Sanders is just a developmental prospect and might not see the on-field action in his rookie season, Stefanski remained committed to developing him just like the other rookies. “I’m committed to his development, just like all our rookies,” the sixth-year HC said at the end of the preseason. “We’ll continue to focus on getting our guys better. That’s what we will stay committed to, and that’s what’s important to me.”

However, the regular season told a different tale. While it was confirmed that Shedeur won’t start, at least not at the earliest of the season, Tony Rizzo ranted against the Browns, claiming that Shedeur wasn’t even getting scout team reps. “I’m hearing Shedeur is not even running scout team. He’s literally watching everyone,” he said. Fast forward to now, Tucker believes that the Browns have specific plans for the rookie, and they’re organizing an extra period after practice for Shedeur to get meaningful reps.

Taken all together, Shedeur Sanders’ development somehow remains the biggest headline in Cleveland. Which naturally makes you wonder: Amidst the Browns’ struggling quarterbacking, will these extra periods of practice help Shedeur to finally get the QB1 job?

Joe Flacco is no longer that explosive quarterback

We saw that coming. The Browns’ quarterback room was bound to shake up. Well, it wasn’t supposed to happen this soon. But at the end of the day, the signs are clear: the Browns are on the verge of becoming the worst team of the 2025 season. And at the center of it? The 40-year-old Joe Flacco. Flacco was anything but efficient in his return to Baltimore. He completed just 55.6% of his passes against the Ravens.

The quarterback finished with 199 yards, one touchdown, and an interception, along with a fourth-quarter fumble that was returned for a TD. By the time the final whistle blew, the Browns were down 0-2 with a crushing 41-17 loss. But the highlight of the game was that Stefanski benched the veteran for Dillon Gabriel in garbage time. The third rounder completed 3-of-3 passes for 19 yards with one touchdown in Flacco’s absence.

But the reality couldn’t be ignored. Flacco’s showing the wear of playing quarterback in his 40s. Once known as the classic pocket passer, he’s now up against a league that’s shifted toward mobility and creativity outside the pocket. And in Week 2, that contrast was glaring. Flacco looked stuck, barely able to move when the play broke down. The numbers tell the story: 0-for-5 with a pick outside the pocket, per TruMedia. That translated into a brutal -1.60 EPA per dropback in those situations—the worst mark of his entire career.

Now the question is, will Stefanski start with his rookies in the coming weeks? Well, the HC didn’t answer in a straight manner. “I don’t think it’s fair to talk about that right now,” he said. “We win as a team. We lose as a team.” But the Browns are yet to win a game this season. Will it come with Flacco under the center or a rookie under the center? That remains to be seen.