By Michael GallagherShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberAfter 11 weeks of sitting on the bench, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders finally got his time to shine.
With fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel still in concussion protocol heading into Sunday’s Week 12 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders, Sanders made his first career NFL start — and he didn’t disappoint.
The Colorado alum completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a 24-10 Cleveland win, snapping the team’s three-game losing streak.
He also became the first Browns QB since Eric Zeier in 1995 to win his first career start. The 17 previous Browns signal-callers between Zeier and Sanders all lost. Gabriel didn’t earn his first NFL win until his third start.
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Sanders also joined former Denver Broncos QB Brian Griese as the only two sons of Pro Football Hall of Famers to start an NFL game at quarterback, according to Andrew Siciliano.
The 23-year-old rookie had a little extra motivation for Sunday’s game as his father, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, was on hand to watch his son’s first NFL start. The two shared a touching pregame moment together, and Deion was shown several times on the broadcast celebrating Shedeur’s big plays.
A video emerged on social media after the win, where Deion can be seen immediately breaking down Shedeur’s performance.
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“You played good,” Deion said. “You’ve got to just look at the film and evaluate yourself on the wrong, but you played good. But you looked like you [were in command] out there. You threw some iffy balls out there — you’ve got to make sure they ain’t iffy. But you did good; I’m proud of you.”
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanki announced on Monday that though Gabriel had cleared concussion protocol, Sanders would get the start in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers.
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