Stephen A. Smith claims Shedeur Sanders is set up to fail in preseason start for Browns

On Tuesday, Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reported that Shedeur Sanders is expected to start in the Cleveland Browns’ first preseason game on Friday. Sanders is currently the fourth QB on the Browns’ depth chart, but fellow Browns quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett are battling injuries.

Browns veteran quarterback Joe Flacco isn’t expected to play in the preseason game, thus leaving the team’s offense in Sanders’ hands. During Thursday’s episode of First Take, Stephen A. Smith questioned the Browns’ decision to shove Sanders into the spotlight when he hasn’t been receiving first-team practice reps.

“He’s being set up to fail,” Smith said. “There’s been 11 practices, if I remember correctly. He’s been playing against the third unit. He’s fourth on the depth chart, and then suddenly you throw him into the starting lineup, and he hasn’t had any reps with the first team at all. Think about that.

“So you just gonna throw him to the wolves like that, huh? I mean, if he had first-team snaps in practice, I don’t say that. But he doesn’t. And then all of a sudden, he’s starting tomorrow night. It’s like you want him to fail. I’m not accusing the coaches of doing this. I’m not accusing the GM of doing this. But that owner, Mr. Haslam, that’s a different animal right there.”

Smith’s suspicion toward Haslam is due to the owner’s previous comments about Sanders. When reporters asked Haslam about the Browns’ decision to draft Sanders in the fifth round of the NFL Draft, Haslam distanced himself from the move.

“That’s (Browns general manager) Andrew Berry’s call. Andrew made the call to pick Shedeur, just like who’s going to start or what play we’re going to call is Kevin (Stefanski’s) call,” Haslam said. “But that’s Andrew’s call. He made the call…  If you just told me Friday night driving home, y’all are going to pick Shedeur, I would say, ‘That’s not happening.’”

ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi previously reported that Shedeur Sanders isn’t receiving any first-team reps at practice and has even been forced to throw against equipment staff members. Despite the obstacle, Sanders has maintained an optimistic perspective throughout training camp.

“It doesn’t make me feel down or left out because I know who I am as a person,” Sanders said. “I know who I am as an individual, and I know what I could bring to this team. So, I can never feel less than any circumstance.”

Shedeur Sanders will make his preseason debut for the Browns on Friday at 7 p.m. ET against the Carolina Panthers. The game will air live on the NFL Network.