Rival coach sends strong message to Browns QB Shedeur Sanders

Shedeur Sanders has had plenty of time in the spotlight since being drafted by the Cleveland Browns, even though he only made his first start for the franchise in the Week 12 win over the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend.

As the son of two-time Super Bowl winner Deion Sanders, the 23-year-old has attracted far more attention than your typical fifth-round rookie.

The Browns’ rough start to the season, with now-departed Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel struggling to make an impact at quarterback, led to calls for Sanders to be given a chance to show what he can do.

Browns QB seizes the opportunity

A concussion suffered by Gabriel opened the door for Sanders to make his first NFL start against the Raiders. The Browns defeated Las Vegas 24-10 to move to 3-8 for the season. The young quarterback is expected to start again on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, despite some speculation that coach Kevin Stefanski is still not fully sold on him.

Sanders draws praise from 49ers DC

One person clearly impressed by Sanders is Robert Saleh, the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, who will face the Browns this weekend.

The former New York Giants head coach told reporters Sanders’ performance in Las Vegas caught his eye, highlighting one characteristic that stands out: confidence.

“He’s a good, young quarterback,” Saleh said. “He’s mobile, he’s got a big arm, tremendous confidence. He made a couple of really, really good throws in the game against Vegas, extending plays, getting out of the pocket, delivering the ball where it needed to be delivered.

“Obviously, he showed good command of the huddle and at the line of scrimmage. You anticipate someone like him who’s got that confidence, who has that skill set, he’s just going to get better and better every week.”

Browns’ last chance?

Saleh will, however, be hoping that Sanders’ improvement does not lead to a second straight win for the Browns when the 49ers visit Ohio on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. San Francisco (8-4) is looking to continue its playoff push, while the Browns (3-8) appear to have little hope of catching the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) and Baltimore Ravens (6-5) at the top of the AFC North.

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