Browns QB Shedeur Sanders confident but not 'comfortable' going into second start

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Shedeur Sanders may have a legion of loyal supporters and a burgeoning brand and own the first win for a Browns debut starter this century, but he’s not satisfied.

Ahead of his second career start Sunday, the rookie quarterback expressed a hunger for more.

“I’m definitely not comfortable, though, so that’s first and foremost that I have another opportunity to go out there,” Sanders said Wednesday, via ESPN. “But in life, you got to understand how quickly things come or how long it comes, it could be taken at any point in time.

“So I’m never comfortable in a situation I’m in. I always want to exceed expectations, and I always want to grow in each and every week, I would want to put a better product of myself, be a better version of myself for the team to be out there.”

It’s good to hear for Browns fans because while Sanders left Allegiant Stadium victorious in Week 12, becoming the first Cleveland quarterback to win his debut since the mid-1990s, Sanders has plenty of room for improvement. His first start featured a handful of promising throws, including an excellent 52-yard strike to Isaiah Bond, but also included inconsistency from one possession to the next and an interception typical of a rookie signal-caller.

If anything, the fifth-round pick exceeded most realistic expectations set for a Day 3 pick. But Sanders is no normal Day 3 pick.

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The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders arrived to the NFL under the glare of a bright spotlight and remained a topic of conversation while riding the bench earlier in the 2025 season because of the intrigue that followed him from the University of Colorado. When finally afforded a full week to prepare as the starter, Sanders acclimated to the speed of the game and operated coach Kevin Stefanski’s offense as intended.

Sanders also injected some life into a locker room that has been challenged plenty amid a 3-8 season.

“He’s always done a nice job of that,” Stefanski said. “What we appreciate about all of our players is authenticity. He’s the same guy every single day. Obviously game day, there’s juice that comes with that. There’s excitement that comes with that, but he’s played that position for a long time. He knows how to make sure he keeps the main thing.”

Although he’s full of social media-ready one-liners, Sanders seems focused on improving. He’ll receive another chance to prove himself against a San Francisco 49ers defense that just suffocated the Carolina Panthers in a 20-9 win on Monday Night Football .

“Day by day, minute by minute, meeting by meeting, of course,” Sanders said. “I’m getting a little bit more comfortable and comfortable in being in that role, being in that position. They’re getting more comfortable with me, also. So I’m excited, I’m happy for it, and I’m just thankful.”

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