Adam Schefter reveals bizarre Shedeur Sanders move was clapback at Rex Ryan

ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided some additional context behind the strange behavior from Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders on Wednesday. At a press conference after the announcement that Dillon Gabriel would replace Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback, Sanders took a strange approach to handling questions about the team’s decision.

The QB quite literally didn’t say a word, only miming his answers and moving his lips without actually speaking. According to Schefter, the awkward moment was actually a response to comments made by ESPN analyst and former NFL coach Rex Ryan.

“We’re all waiting to see this, Shedeur Sanders be the guy, or Gabriel or whatever,” Ryan said Monday on Get Up. Something’s missing. Something’s missing with this kid. This kid talks—he runs his mouth like — ‘I could be a starting quarterback,’ with his arms crossed like this. Get your ass in the front row and study and do all that.

“If I know, the whole league knows. Quit being an embarrassment that way. You’ve got the talent to be the quarterback you should be. You should be embarrassed that you’re not the quarterback.”

Shedeur Sanders pantomiming today was in response to ESPN analyst Rex Ryan criticizing the rookie QB earlier this week. Here is what Ryan said Monday on Get Up that led to Sanders pantomiming answers today about Cleveland’s QB change and him remaining QB3: pic.twitter.com/MDRWz8hb4h

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 1, 2025

The saga with Shedeur Sanders was one of the biggest talking points during the NFL offseason. Despite many analysts predicting him to be a first-round draft pick or second-round at the latest, he fell all the way to the fifth round with five other quarterbacks taken ahead of him.

One of those players was Gabriel, whom the Browns selected in the third round. He continued to be listed ahead of Sanders on the preseason depth chart, but Cleveland opted to begin the year with neither of its rookies as the starter, instead turning to Flacco’s veteran presence.

However, after a 1-3 start to the season, it became evident that a change was needed. It’s clear the team feels more comfortable giving that opportunity to Gabriel than Sanders, who is still listed as the third-string quarterback.

Sanders has not been active for any of Cleveland’s four games this season, instead running the scout team in practice. Now the pressure is only continuing to pile on as people question why a player who entered the draft with so much hype hasn’t been able to break through.

It seems that all boiled over Wednesday in Sanders’ bizarre display during the media availability. Now the QB seemingly has more attention on him than he would have if he had just said a few words.