Sheduer Sander made his NFL debut for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday after coming off the bench for fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11.
Gabriel didn't come out to play the second half after a concussion issue. With Sanders taking the field for the first time this season, all eyes were on the Browns' rookie.
Sanders completed 4 of his 16 passes for 47 yards with an interception and was sacked twice. Following his underwhelming debut, the rookie quarterback addressed his performance.
"I don’t think I played good,” Sanders said. “I don’t think I played good at all. I think there’s a lot of things we need to look at during the week and go and just get comfortable even throwing routes with Jerry and throwing routes with all those guys.
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"So I think that was my first ball to him all year. … I just think overall we’ve just got to go next week and understand so then we have a week to prepare stuff I like to do.”
The rookie could make his first start of his NFL career with Gabriel's availability uncertain for next Sunday's clash against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Veteran Browns DE rallies behind Shedeur Sanders after poor NFL debut
While Shedeur Sanders was critical of his performance after taking the field for the first time this season, veteran Browns defensive end Myles Garrett rallied behind the rookie.
"For sure, I mean, just tell him to keep his head up," Garrett said. "I know there was one drive in which he kind of walked off and I saw him, he was putting his head down. I know he wants to make the play; he wants to have that game change and drive because he feels like he has that ability and we've seen it. So don't be discouraged from one drive or two drives."
The six-time Pro Bowler said Sander's was blaming himself for Sunday's loss against the Ravens, but the team is not making him the scapegoat for the defeat.
"He spoke after the game and he wanted to pin it on himself and his performance, but we're not gonna allow him to do that," Garett said. "It's a team game, so we're all in this together."
With Dillon Gabriel's status in the air, Sanders could see more playing time on Sunday.
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