Browns Linked to Trading Shedeur Sanders to Struggling AFC Team
The Cleveland Browns have Shedeur Sanders as their backup quarterback, but that could soon change.
Cleveland is using Dillon Gabriel as its starting quarterback and could be in the market to draft a quarterback early in next year’s draft. With that, NFL analyst Christopher Kline of FanSided links the Browns to trading Sanders to the
The New York Jets fell to 0-6 with an ugly loss in London. Justin Fields threw for 45 yards and took nine sacks for -55 yards, which means the Jets’ passing attack generated -10 yards in total,” Kline
“If the Jets can bring in a young quarterback for trial by fire, that is the ideal solution. Why not see what Sanders can do with a long runway? It’s not like the Jets are without quality playmakers. Garrett Wilson is one of the best wideouts in the
Kline believes the Jets need to try something new, and Sanders would get the chance to start. The Browns, meanwhile, would likely get a draft pick back and move on from the Sanders experiment.
Sanders Unlikely to Start Anytime Soon For Browns
Part of the reason why Sanders could be traded is due to the fact that he doesn’t have a path to playing time.
The Browns are set on Gabriel as the starting quarterback, so Sanders may not get playing time this season. Insider Jason Lloyd of The Athletic reported that Sanders isn’t ready and is unlikely to play anytime soon.
“I don’t get the impression that he’s “ready,” but I don’t know that it matters much,” Lloyd wrote. “If they crowbarred Johnny Manziel onto the field on a team that was actually in the division race, why wouldn’t they throw Sanders out there at some point, given the current mess?
“Look, we all know Sanders is a lightning rod. I don’t know what you think of him, but he comes off as quite likable in the few brief interactions I’ve had with him. It’s all the noise that comes with him that makes all of this difficult. I’ve written and said all I want to about Sanders until he takes the field. Ultimately, I believe the Browns will be right back in the quarterback lottery next year.”
Sanders did show flashes of promise in the preseason, which is why he could have some trade value ahead of the Nov. 4 deadline.
Sanders Focused on Being the Best Backup
Although Sanders was vocal about wanting to start, he is focused on helping Gabriel.
Sanders said after the trade of Joe Flacco that his goal was to make sure Gabriel is ready
“We’re going to make sure we do everything we can to make sure Dillon is ready for the game,” Sanders said. “So each and every day, even when Joe (Flacco) was the starter, everything. Prepare the right way and be ready to know that you could get out there any point in time. So, I’m overly confident within myself. I know when I first got here, I’m ready to play. But it’s up to the coache. And whatever decision they make, then I’m fine with.”
Gabriel is set for his third-straight start against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at home.
Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Day-to-Day With Hamstring Injury
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown took part in “everything but the live portion” of Friday’s practice after exiting the preseason finale with
left hamstring tightness, head coach Joe Mazzulla told The Athletic. Mazzulla described Brown as day-to-day with Opening Night looming next Wednesday vs. the Philadelphia 76ers.
Celtics’ Jaylen Brown day-to-day after hamstring injury, coach Joe Mazzulla says
Brown grabbed at the back of his left leg and left Wednesday’s
110–108 win over the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter. He did not return, and the team initially listed him as doubtful due to hamstring tightness. Local outlets indicated after the game that the injury was not believed to be serious.
What It Means for Boston
The All-NBA wing’s updated status is a
positive indicator that Boston avoided a major setback. Brown’s full participation in non-contact work suggests the hamstring handled controlled movement 48 hours after the scare, but the day-to-day label keeps his opener availability genuinely to be decided pending how he responds to ramp-up and any live work the staff allows before Wednesday.
The four-time All-Star enters 2025-26 off two strong seasons as a developing scorer-creator. Last year he averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and a career-best 4.5 assists in 34.3 minutes across 63 games, while shooting 46.3% from the field and 32.4% from three. He posted 22.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 11 playoff games. In 2023-24, Brown put up 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists over 70 games as Boston won the title, marking back-to-back 23-ish PPG seasons with incremental playmaking growth. He’s a four-time All-Star and a 2022-23 All-NBA selection, the latter helping trigger his supermax extension that summer.
From a profile standpoint, Brown’s value comes from downhill rim pressure, mid-post scoring and transition finishing, with enough catch-and-shoot volume to space next to another star. If he’s limited early, Boston typically redistributes on-ball reps to Derrick White and Payton Pritchard while keeping Brown in second-side actions when active. The day-to-day hamstring tag doesn’t change his usage outlook when he’s cleared; it just puts the emphasis on short-term management of minutes and back-to-backs.
Context matters for the 2025-26 Celtics: Jayson Tatum is rehabbing a torn Achilles suffered in May and is not expected to start the season, though recent updates show him progressing on-court. With Tatum sidelined, Brown projects as Boston’s primary option to start the year, making his short-term health pivotal.
Boston’s summer also brought sweeping roster changes: Jrue Holiday was traded to the Trail Blazers, Kristaps Porzingis moved to the Hawks in a three-team deal, and veterans Al Horford (Warriors) and Luke Kornet (Spurs) departed in free agency. That turnover places added weight on Brown, White, and Pritchard as the offense recalibrates around new pieces.
What’s Next
Boston opens the regular season
Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET against Philadelphia at TD Garden. Game listings currently show Brown as a game-time decision. Expect the Celtics to monitor his response to incremental activity through shootaround; any decision to play could come down to pregame testing. If Brown sits, look for elevated usage across White/Pritchard and added minutes for the wing/forward group to cover Brown’s on-ball and scoring load.
