STWF Sports|CLEVELAND|Nov. 20, 2025 –  — Way to take the air out of the balloon, Kevin Stefanski. The Browns head coach doesn’t care about your feelings, your Twitter arguments, or the emotional roller coaster that comes with a rookie quarterback getting his first shot. He has a plan — and whether fans like it or not, that plan involves Dillon Gabriel reclaiming the starting quarterback job the moment he clears concussion protocol.

So when Stefanski was asked Thursday whether Shedeur Sanders could win the job with a strong performance this weekend against the Las Vegas Raiders, the answer was predictable.

“I’m not going to speculate on that type of thing,” Stefanski said. “I know this — we trust our players, and we’re solely focused on the next game.”

Translation: Gabriel is still QB1 in Cleveland.

It’s not exactly what fans wanted to hear, especially after Sanders’ unexpected debut in Baltimore last week. But even if the fifth-round rookie lights it up on Sunday, Stefanski doesn’t appear interested in a quarterback controversy.

And truthfully, it’s not like Gabriel was setting the league on fire. In his first six starts, the fellow rookie threw for 869 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions with a 59 percent completion rate and an 80.4 passer rating — all while managing just one win. Solid? Sometimes. Special? Not yet.

Despite the coach’s firm stance, the opportunity in front of Sanders is massive. For the first time since being drafted, he gets a full week of first-team reps. No mid-game surprise. No emergency call. No chaos.

Just preparation.

And Sanders is seizing it.

Sanders’ Honest Self-Review

During his availability with reporters Thursday, Sanders was brutally honest about his uneven outing against the Ravens — a game in which he completed just 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and threw an interception.

“I think I handled the blitz pretty good,” Sanders said. “I think there were certain scenarios where I could’ve been tighter — my footwork and other things. But all that’s about feel, and getting the reps.”

Then came the key line.

“But as time went on, you saw the comfort, the juice behind it. So I know I can get to that place.”

It was the first real glimpse of confidence from Sanders — not the bravado that comes with college stardom, but the steady, measured belief of a quarterback who finally gets to operate as the starter instead of the emergency option.

“You Cannot Miss This Moment”

Sunday isn’t just another game for the rookie. It’s the fulfillment of a moment he’s been chasing since he arrived in Berea — and Sanders didn’t shy away from that.

“It’s going to be exciting,” he said. “I know a lot of y’all are going to be there. You can’t miss it. You cannot miss this moment.”

The tone wasn’t cocky. It was grateful. Focused. Like a young quarterback who understands both the weight of the opportunity and the fragility of it. If Gabriel clears protocol in a week, this could all be temporary.

But for now? It’s Sanders’ show.

Stefanski Still Sets the Tone

While fans may be hoping for a shift in philosophy, Stefanski remains rigid in his approach. When asked what the staff is doing to support Sanders ahead of his first start, the coach kept it simple.

“You’re always trying to do that with all your players — make sure they’re comfortable.”

Stefanski isn’t budging. Gabriel is still his guy, long-term.

But Sunday may still tell us something important — whether Shedeur Sanders is ready to change that conversation.