Browns’ Latest Dillon Gabriel Update is Bad News for Shed...

By Matt Audilet

Contributing Sports Writer

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Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is set for his first career NFL start on Sunday, facing off against the Las Vegas Raiders in a Week 12 matchup.

Sanders got his first regular-season NFL action in Week 11, entering the game after starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel left the field with a concussion. The fifth-round draft pick out of Colorado completed just four of his 16 pass attempts for 47 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, taking two sacks in the process.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced Sanders as the team's Week 12 starting quarterback on Wednesday. On Friday, he confirmed that Gabriel is still working his way through the NFL's concussion protocol.

“Not just yet but he’s doing great," Stefanski said when asked if Gabriel has cleared protocol.

Stefanski also said the Browns' starting quarterback job belongs to Gabriel whenever he's healthy enough to play.

Sanders will get the start against the Raiders this weekend — but his stint as Cleveland's QB1 could be short lived.

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When Sanders took the field for the Browns this past Sunday, it was his first time working with the starting offense in any capacity. With Gabriel still in concussion protocol, Sanders is working with the first unit for a full week of practice action leading up to Sunday's Week 12 matchup against the Raiders.

"I'm truly excited for that, knowing that I have a piece of [the] offense and a say so and how things fit my eye and place the players exactly where they need to be," Sanders said, via ESPN. "Seeing how they come in and out of routes, seeing the structure of the O-linemen, seeing their set, just having a feeling.

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"I'm more of a feel type of person, so that's how I learn, that's how I do everything. I'm not just, 'Imma just watch it, it's just going to happen.' No, I got to be out there, feel it. I got to move around. It's like so many details that it takes for me to feel my best and play my best and I'm doing everything in my power and the team's doing everything to help me get prepared."

Sanders' first start with the Browns will kickoff at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Depending on Gabriel's concussion protocol status, Sanders could be relegated back to the bench for the Browns' Week 13 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

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