Shedeur Sanders is reportedly in line to make his first NFL start, as he is expected to take over as the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback in their upcoming matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Dillon Gabriel entered the concussion protocol after leaving Cleveland’s 23–16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, and according to Cleveland.com, Sanders is projected to start in Gabriel’s place unless something unforeseen occurs. If he does get the nod, Sanders will become the 42nd different starting quarterback for the Browns since 1999, continuing the franchise’s long-running instability at the position.

The former Colorado standout made his NFL debut against the Ravens but struggled to find rhythm in limited action. Sanders completed just four of 16 pass attempts for 47 yards, threw one interception, and was sacked twice. Following the game, he openly acknowledged his poor performance and took responsibility for his struggles.

“I don’t think I played good,” Sanders said after the loss. “I don’t think I played good at all. There are a lot of things we need to look at during the week and just get more comfortable — even throwing routes with Jerry [Jeudy] and getting timing down with the rest of the guys.”

Sanders noted that his lack of in-game chemistry with his receivers showed, pointing out that some connections were happening for the first time in a live setting. “That was my first ball to him all year,” Sanders said. “Overall, we just have to move forward, prepare for next week, and put together things that fit what I like to do.”

Despite another strong showing from the defense, the Browns were unable to capitalize. Star edge rusher Myles Garrett recorded four sacks, and the defense intercepted Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson twice. However, Cleveland’s offense once again failed to generate enough production to complement those efforts.

The loss dropped the Browns to 2–8 on the season, further highlighting their offensive struggles. Cleveland is averaging just 16.2 points per game, ranking 29th in the NFL, and only 257.3 total yards per contest, which places them 31st in the league. The team hopes Sanders’ mobility and playmaking ability can inject some much-needed energy into an offense that has stalled for much of the year.

Cleveland will face a similarly struggling Raiders team, also sitting at 2–8, on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET. With both teams looking to salvage momentum in a difficult season, Sanders’ potential first start could serve as an important evaluation point for the Browns as they look ahead to the future.