Shedeur Sanders struggles, Tyler Huntley leads Browns to last-second 19-17 preseason win over Rams

CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns coach Kevin Stefanski went with Tyler Huntley instead of Shedeur Sanders when his team had a chance for a winning preseason drive on Saturday.

With Huntley behind center, Cleveland (3-0) drove into position for Andre Szmyt’s 37-yard field goal as time expired in a 19-17 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

Huntley was signed to Cleveland’s roster after injuries at quarterback early in training camp. He moved the Browns 46 yards in six plays, completing his only pass for 7 yards. The veteran also had a 9-yard scramble to the Rams 24-yard line.

Huntley and the Browns benefited from three Rams penalties for 25 yards, including a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on linebacker Tony Fields II that advanced the ball to the Rams 33.

Sanders looked like a typical fifth-round rookie in his five series during the second half. After passing for 138 yards and two touchdowns on Aug. 8 at Carolina, Sanders managed only one first down and was sacked five times.

Sanders thought he was going to have the reins for the final drive after Los Angeles’ Jordan Waters scored on a 2-yard run with 2:08 remaining. But Stefanski told Sanders he was going with Huntley.

“It wasn’t my decision. Of course, that’s every quarterback’s dream and that’s what every quarterback thrives for, those moments, so it wasn’t me,” said Sanders, who completed 3 of 6 passes for 14 yards. “I was happy that Huntley got in, and he handled his business. If anybody else would do it, it would be him.”

While Stefanski wasn’t happy with Sanders’ play — including taking a 24-yard sack early in the fourth quarter when he kept scrambling backward instead of throwing the ball away — he wasn’t ready to put all the blame on the rookie.

“We didn’t play great as an offense in the second half. That’s never on one person,” Stefanski said. “So we can be better in a bunch of areas and just felt like we wanted to give Snoop (Huntley) a last drive.”

Stefanski also had to be pleased about the play of Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel. Flacco had a touchdown pass and Gabriel directed two scoring drives as the Browns continue to evaluate their quarterbacks. Cleveland may start the regular season with four QBs on the roster.

Flacco, the 18-year veteran named the Week 1 starter, completed 9 of 10 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. The first-team offense was in for three series and 17 plays. On the second drive, he completed all four of his passes, including a 15-yard scoring strike to rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr.

“We completed the ball, did what we had to do at times, didn’t try to do anything crazy, got the ball in a few guys’ hands just to get them feeling the football too. So, ultimately, it was a good day,” Flacco said.

Gabriel went 9 of 11 during a two-minute drive late in the first half. The drive went 86 yards in 11 plays, including a 3-yard touchdown to Gage Larvadain with 17 seconds remaining. That put the Browns up 17-6 at halftime.

It marked the second consecutive week the third-round pick led a two-minute drive at the end of the first half. The possession at Philadelphia resulted in a go-ahead field goal.

“You want to continue to be aggressive and learn when it’s time to give it a shot or time to give it up and throw the ball away. So things that I’m learning and continue to grow, but want to do that for us to get better,” said Gabriel, who was 12 of 19 for 129 yards and a touchdown.

Rams third-stringer Dresser Winn completed 15 of 23 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown. Waters finished with 41 yards on six carries.

Winn was off target on his first four passes before completing 12 straight for 145 yards. His first completion was for 33 yards up the left sideline to Terrance Ferguson on the first play of a six-play scoring drive that was capped with a 1-yard TD pass to Drake Stoops with 1:55 remaining in the first half.

“Stetson (Bennett) played eight full quarters. We thought it was an earned opportunity for (Winn),” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “I thought Dresser played really well. (Quarterbacks coach) Dave Ragone was outstanding in getting him ready for this game.”

It was the second straight preseason that the Rams (2-1) have played Bennett in the first two games and Winn in the finale.

“I’m thankful for this opportunity. If somebody needs you to play, I needed to show I could play,” Winn said. “I’ve got to start out faster, but it felt a lot smoother once I got going.”

Browns: Starting center Ethan Pocic suffered a knee injury during the first series and did not return. Stefanski said Pocic will have an MRI on Sunday.

Rams: Open the regular season at home against the Houston Texans on Sept. 7.

Browns: Host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Cleveland Browns place kicker Andre Szmyt (47) celebrates with place holder Corey Bojorquez (13) after making the game-winning field goal in an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyler Huntley (7) runs against Los Angeles Rams safety Malik Dixon-Williams (39) in the second half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Dresser Winn (4) rolls out during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco warms up before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki )

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) celebrates with tight end Brenden Bates (82) after scoring a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) tackles Los Angeles Rams quarterback Dresser Winn (4) in the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

CARY, N.C. (AP) — Clayton Kershaw isn't done pitching just yet, agreeing Thursday to join the U.S. team for this year's World Baseball Classic.

The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner wanted to pitch for the Americans in the 2023 tournament but was prevented because of insurance issues. He had a $20 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the time.

“I was too broken for the insurance to cover my arm and everything,” Kershaw said on MLB Network, “so now that it doesn't matter I get to go and be a part of this group.”

A left-hander who turns 38 two days after the March 17 championship game, Kershaw announced last September that he was retiring at the end of the season, his 18th in a stellar career for the Dodgers. He won his third World Series title and finished 223-96 with a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.

“I just want to be the insurance policy,” Kershaw said. “If anybody needs a breather or if they need me to pitch back-to-back-to-back or if they don’t need me to pitch at all, I’m just there to be there. I just want to be a part of this group.”

Later Thursday, new Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman announced he will join the U.S. team.

When Kershaw received a call from U.S. manager Mark DeRosa, he thought he was being invited as a coach.

“I didn't have a whole lot of interest in picking up a baseball again," Kershaw said. “I started throwing 10, 12 days ago and it doesn’t feel terrible, so I think I’ll be OK.”

Kershaw joins a U.S. pitching staff that includes right-handers David Bednar, Clay Holmes, Griffin Jax, Nolan McLean, Mason Miller, Joe Ryan, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb along with left-handers Tarik Skubal and Gabe Speier.

The American roster also includes catchers Cal Raleigh and Will Smith; infielders Ernie Clement, Gunnar Henderson, Brice Turang and Bobby Witt Jr.; outfielders Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge; and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.

The U.S., which lost the 2023 championship game to Japan, opens March 6 against Brazil at Houston, part of a group that also includes Britain, Italy and Mexico.

Shohei Ohtani struck out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to end Japan's 3-2 win in the 2023 championship. Kershaw doesn't anticipate facing Ohtani, his teammate for the Dodgers' World Series titles in 2024 and 2025.

“I think something will have gone terribly wrong if I have to pitch against team Japan in the finals or something. I think we got plenty of guys to get that guy out and not me,” Kershaw said. “But if that happens, I'll be nervous. I'll be nervous at this point.”

AP baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw celebrates the end of the top of the 12th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of baseball's World Series, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)