"Doesn’t look like a leader": Jason Whitlock skewers Shedeur Sanders after Browns QB struggles massively vs. Rams

The Cleveland Browns wrapped up the preseason with a 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams. However, rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders stole the headlines as usual, but not in the way he hoped.

Sanders had a rough outing and was pulled out in the fourth quarter as head coach Kevin Stefanski opted to give Tyler Huntley the keys for the two-minute drill. Huntley rewarded that decision by leading Cleveland downfield and setting up Andre Szmyt for a 37-yard game-winning field goal.

Meanwhile, Sanders was quite animated on the sideline, an image that NFL analyst Jason Whitlock wasted no time commenting on. Whitlock critiqued Deion Sanders' quarterback son on X, tweeting,

“Body language and energy are awful. Doesn’t look like a leader. Holding the ball too long. Guess who? Tupac Shedeur.”

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Statistically, Sanders struggled in limited action. He completed just 3 out of 6 passes, registering 14 yards. The rookie never looked comfortable against the Rams' defense, raising questions about whether he’ll stick on the Browns’ final 53-man roster.

Also read: Deion Sanders Jr. drops cryptic message after Shedeur Sanders gets less playing time and different playcalling in Browns' final preseason game

Kevin Stefanski makes feelings known on Shedeur Sanders' frustration

Former Colorado quarterback showed frustration on the sidelines after Stefanski pulled him out in the fourth quarter and put Tyler Huntley. Browns HC didn't stress too much on Shedeur's reaction when speaking to reporters. He brushed aside any notion of controversy.

“Obviously, we didn’t play great as an offense in the second half,” Stefanski said. “That’s never on one person … we just felt like we wanted to give [Huntley] the last drive. He’s a competitive kid. It’s nothing more than that.”

Sanders admitted his performance left room for growth but firmly believed he belongs on the Browns’ roster.

“Obviously, I feel like I can improve in a lot of areas… but overall as a player, I’ve put in the work,” Sanders said.

Tuesday’s roster cut-down is looming, and the rookie’s fate remains uncertain. Nonetheless, Stefanski’s comments suggest the Browns view Sanders’ sideline frustration as nothing more than a competitor showing emotion in the heat of the moment.

Also read: Derek Carr blasts Browns for limiting Shedeur Sanders’ reps while highlighting Dillon Gabriel’s two-minute drill

About the author

Prasen is an NFL/College Sports analyst at Sportskeeda. A B.Tech/Civil Engineering graduate, he has two years of experience writing content.

For Prasen, providing historical angles relevant to the story is important, as it can give the reader useful information and help them relate it to the present. He thinks this keeps the content unique rather than just a bland reporting of facts. Prasen believes in fact-checking and researching relevant information as per the headline and context. He hates clickbait or misleading the reader.

A fan of the Colorado Buffaloes since Deion Sanders took over as coach, Prasen expects Coach Prime to make the Buffs a national championship contender. Nick Saban is his favorite all-time coach, while Baker Mayfield and Caitlin Clark are his favorite players. Prasen considers Vince Young coming up clutch for the Texas Longhorns in the dying seconds of the 2017 national championship game against the USC Trojans as the most iconic moment of all time.

Per Prasen, College Sports is competitive and garners attention but it is just the beginning, where a student-athlete can show their skills and potential to make it to the big leagues. When he is not researching and writing, Prasen’s hobbies include pursuing higher studies and playing sports.

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Edited by Prasen