After Shedeur Sanders lost out on the starting job to Deshaun Watson during the offseason, it was assumed he would be active and serve as the Cleveland Browns‘ backup on gamedays.
However, as it turns out, there’s a chance that doesn’t happen and instead Sanders might be inactive for the regular season opener.
Head coach Todd Monken said as much on Monday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
The reason is the Browns might have a package of plays for rookie signal-caller Taylen Green, and if so, they could have him active instead of Sanders.
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“Could be,” Monken said of the possibility the Browns could put together a special package for the uber-athletic quarterback. “There could be a package where we have him.”
“Three’s a lot,” Monken responded when asked if the team could have three quarterbacks active on gameday.
While Monken no doubt turned heads by saying all that, ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi wonders if this is just gamesmanship on Monken’s part.
“The Browns like Green, and I know weird things happen in Cleveland, but let’s also remember Green went days without taking reps in training camp and only played the second half of a preseason finale,” he wrote.
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Sanders could still play even if he’s inactive, but it would take a lot.
The Browns can designate him as the emergency third quarterback, but Sanders can only take the field in that scenario if both Watson and Green get hurt.
Regardless of what the Browns decide to do, Sanders probably isn’t thrilled at the mere suggestion he could be left inactive because the Browns want a package for Green.
Who is Taylen Green?
Green is a 2026 sixth-round pick of the Browns out of Arkansas.
Green, who runs a 4.36 40-yard dash, had a 60.7% completion rate, 2,714 passing yards and 19 touchdowns to 11 picks and ran for 777 yards and another eight scores in his final collegiate season.
You can see why the Browns are intrigued by his athleticism and want put some plays together to take advantage of Green’s skill set.
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During the preseason, Green completed just 5-of-7 passes for 27 yards but ran for 66 yards on eight carries, all of which came in one game.
We would normally agree with Oyefusi’s take, but this it the Browns we’re talking about, so nothing can be ruled out.
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