Browns QB Shedeur Sanders has a rough NFL debut after relieving the injured Dillon Gabriel

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shedeur Sanders finally got the opportunity to show what he could do as an NFL quarterback.

In one half of action, the Cleveland Browns rookie showed he still faces a steep learning curve.

The highly publicized son of Deion Sanders entered with 12:43 remaining in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens after Cleveland announced that Dillon Gabriel was being evaluated for a concussion. Gabriel was ruled out later in the quarter.

Sanders completed his first two passes, but not much went right after that. He went 4 for 16 for 47 yards with an interception and was sacked twice, finishing with a 13.5 passer rating as the Ravens rallied for a 23-16 victory.

“I don’t think I played good at all. They gave me an opportunity. I didn’t do up to my expectations to get us a win. I have to take it on the chin,” said Sanders, who also scrambled three times for 16 yards.

With Sanders behind center, Cleveland gained 44 yards on 28 plays with four first downs in six second-half possessions, going three-and-out twice.

“We trust our guys to perform. He’s no different, you know, and playing a backup quarterback role, as we’ve talked about over the years, that’s tough to come in there, but we trust him,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “I know there’s things that he’s going to want to do better, but that’s why we work.”

Deion Sanders, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who coached Shedeur in college at Jackson State and Colorado, was quiet on social media Sunday night after his son’s debut.

Sanders became Cleveland’s backup behind fellow rookie Gabriel after Joe Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 7. However, Sunday was the first time he led the huddle with the first-team offense or threw passes to Jerry Jeudy, Harold Fannin Jr. and Cedric Tillman.

“I think I have heard his cadence like two or three times. I think going out of halftime, we all got on the line, and he said his cadence and we kind of got through it," guard Wyatt Teller said. “Again, a lot of learning, but he played his heart off, put his heart out.”

On his first snap, Sanders threw a 5-yard pass to Tillman. He completed both of his passes for 12 yards on his first drive but struggled with his footwork. He was sacked for an 11-yard loss by Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton and fumbled, with Teller recovering.

Sanders threw his first interception on his second series. On third-and-10 at the Browns 17, Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy got pressure up the middle and hammered Sanders as he released the ball. The throw was off target and picked off at the 30 by Nate Wiggins, who returned it 14 yards.

There was a four-series stretch where Sanders was 0 of 7 with an interception and took a sack.

After Mark Andrews' 35-yard touchdown run with 2:31 remaining put the Ravens on top, Sanders tried to lead a tying drive. He completed a 25-yard pass to Fannin on the first play. Three plays later, he connected with Jeudy for 10 yards to the Ravens 30.

Sanders and the Browns drove to the Ravens 25 before the drive stalled. Sanders’ final pass intended for tight end David Njoku on fourth-and-5 was short as the Browns (2-8) dropped their third straight.

Sanders did take one shot at the end zone on second-and-5, but missed a throw to Isaiah Bond.

“He just kind of got thrown out there but I think he handled it well. We know what type of player he is and it was good to see him out there,” Tillman said.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said his team didn't deviate much from its plan when Sanders came in, although they blitzed more often in an attempt to rattle him.

“The game plan was going to be good for their offensive system and what they’re doing. We were not going to change that," he said. “You don’t know how the quarterback’s going to look exactly, but you just have to take care of your own business.”

A fifth-round pick by the Browns after some projected him to go in the first round, Sanders was inactive for Cleveland's first five games as the emergency third quarterback after going 17 of 29 for 152 yards and two touchdowns in two preseason games.

Sanders should get his first extensive practice with the first-team offense this week, depending on how long Gabriel remains in the concussion protocol. Stefanski said Sanders would get his first NFL start next Sunday at Las Vegas if Gabriel can't play. Gabriel completed 7 of 10 passes for 68 yards in the first half in his sixth NFL start.

The Browns have lost three straight.

“I think it’s a lot of things, you know, we need to look at, during the week and go and just get comfortable, even throwing routes, you know, with Jerry (Jeudy) and throwing routes with all those guys,” Sanders said. “So I think that was my first ball to him all year. But other than that, I just think overall we just got to go next week and understand so then we have a week to prepare stuff I like to do.”

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) runs the ball in the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Cleveland, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) prepares to throw a pass under pressure from Baltimore Ravens linebacker Teddye Buchanan (40) in the second half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) drops back from the line of srimmage during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Cleveland, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) drops back to pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Cleveland, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) is sacked by Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) in the second half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/David Richard)

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Ferran Torres scored a hat trick, Lamine Yamal converted a penalty and Roony Bardghji shone in a rare start as Barcelona roared back to win at Real Betis 5-3 in La Liga on Saturday.

Barcelona’s rout of fifth-placed Betis in Seville increased its lead to four points over Real Madrid before it hosts Celta Vigo on Sunday.

Torres has grown from a bench player to become Hansi Flick’s most used striker. The Spain forward has more starts than Robert Lewandowski, who at 37 is seeing his playing time reduced.

Torres leads Barcelona in scoring with 13 goals across all competitions. He has 11 in La Liga through 15 rounds, surpassing his 10 in the league all of last season. Only Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé with 16 has more in this campaign.

“I already knew that I could be a starter here in Barcelona and fight for this spot,” Torres said. “Now we have to go for more. The most important thing was our ability to respond to their early goal.”

It was a fourth career hat trick for Torres, who also bagged three goals at Betis in a 4-2 win last year.

Bardghji impressed in his third start since the 20-year-old Sweden winger joined Barcelona from Copenhagen in the summer. His dribbling was electric, and he provided a cross for Torres to score the go-ahead goal before he made it 3-1 with a powerful strike from just inside the area.

Lewandowski and Raphinha never left the bench for Barcelona. That leaves them rested for when Eintracht Frankfurt arrive on Tuesday in the Champions League.

The game featured a tactical novelty for Barcelona: Yamal spent most of the match playing in an interior, creative midfield role rather than on the right wing.

Yamal remained in sync with his teammates, participating in the passing move that led to Torres’ first goal. He converted the penalty in the 59th for Barcelona's fifth after a shot by Marcus Rashford hit the raised arm of Marc Bartra.

Flick said he asked Yamal if he was ready to play at the “10 spot” and Yamal agreed. Above all, his coach praised Yamal’s work in defense.

“He played a fantastic game and it gives us one or two more options,” Flick said.

Betis eased the pain with late goals by Diego Llorente and Cucho Hernández's penalty after Koundé fouled Abde in the box.

Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis was flying high coming into the game having beaten fierce city rival Sevilla in the previous round and was unbeaten in eight games overall. Betis will be overtaken by Espanyol on Sunday if it gets a draw with Rayo Vallecano.

Fermín López returned as a second-half substitute after the Barcelona midfielder missed two games with a leg injury.

Tajon Buchanan and Georges Mikautadze scored to help Villarreal beat Getafe 2-0 and stay in third place, one point behind Madrid.

Athletic Bilbao beat fourth-placed Atletico Madrid 1-0 before the Basque club faces Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Alex Berenguer scored from a pass by Nico Williams with five minutes remaining.

Alaves upset Real Sociedad 1-0 in a regional derby.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Barcelona's Ferran Torres celebrates after scoring his side second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Barcelona in Seville, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Phot/Manu Reino)

Betis' Antony celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the game during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Barcelona in Seville, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Phot/Manu Reino)

Barcelona's Ferran Torres celebrates after scoring his side second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Barcelona in Seville, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Phot/Manu Reino)

Barcelona's Roony Bardghji celebrates after scoring his sides third goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Barcelona in Seville, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Phot/Manu Reino)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring his sides 5th goal from the penalty spot during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Barcelona in Seville, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Phot/Manu Reino)

Barcelona's Ferran Torres celebrates after scoring his side 4th goal and his third goal of the game during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Betis and Barcelona in Seville, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Phot/Manu Reino)