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Robert Griffin III calls out Browns over decision on Shedeur Sanders after Joe Flacco benching

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones14 hours agobrianjones_93
Shedeur Sanders (2)
Sep 28, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

Robert Griffin III is not happy with the Cleveland Browns not making Shedeur Sanders the backup quarterback after naming Dillon Gabriel the starter. On X/Twitter, Griffin reacted to the Browns naming Joe Flacco the backup over Sanders.

“The Browns are starting Dillon Gabriel, and there is no excuse not to make Shedeur Sanders the backup,” Robert Griffin III wrote. Sanders will remain the No. 3 quarterback for the Browns’ next game against the Minnesota Vikings, which will be played in London on Sunday.

Shortly after the announcement was made, reporters asked Sanders about the move. The former Colorado star mouthed silent answers before a team media relations staffer ended the interview. Reporters asked head coach Kevin Stefanski about not making Sanders the No. 2 QB, but he responded only that Flacco was the backup.

Last week, Sanders told reporters that he was ready to be the starting QB. “If you see the quarterback play in the league right now, I know I’m capable of doing better than that,” Sanders said, per ESPN.

Robert Griffin III called out the Browns about Shedeur Sanders in August

This is not the first time Griffin has called out the Browns about Sanders. In August, the former NFL QB wrote, “Shedeur Sanders is being set up to fail in Cleveland. But God’s got him showing out even with limited reps.”

Sanders was selected by the Browns in the fifth round (No. 144) of this year’s draft. The 23-year-old was expected to be a first-round pick, but Sanders was the second QB the Browns selected during the draft, as they picked Dillon Gabriel in the third round (No. 94 overall).

“Of course I want to start, but my reality is I’m not going to start and that’s fine because I’m able to live those reps through Joe,” Sanders told ESPN in September. “I’m able to live those reps through talking to Deshaun [Watson], through Dillon, through everybody that’s in the room.”

Sanders spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Colorado. During the 2024 season, Sanders was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award after throwing for 4,143 yards and 37 touchdowns while completing 74 percent of his passes.

We’ll have more on this story shortly.