Browns coach Stefanski still isn't ready to announce Sanders as his starting QB for rest of season

Coach Kevin Stefanski continues to take Shedeur Sanders’ status as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback on a week-by-week basis.

The Browns’ 26-8 loss to San Francisco assured their 23rd losing season since 1999. Sanders struggled in the second half, but finished 16 of 25 passing for 149 yards with a touchdown.

Sanders has accomplished something none of the other 14 Cleveland quarterbacks did in their first two rookie starts, going back to 1957 — have a passer rating above 85 in each start.

“I’m just dealing with our football team week to week, but I’m pleased with his progress,” Stefanski said about Sanders on Monday. “He wants to continue to get better and better, and that’s the right attitude to have, and that’s why we’ll continue to work.”

Sanders continues to say that the biggest area he is trying to improve is building comfort and trust with the first-unit offense. He has had only two weeks of practice with the group after not getting any first-team snaps during training camp or after becoming Dillon Gabriel’s backup after Joe Flacco was traded to Cincinnati on Oct. 7.

Stefanski has taken plenty of criticism for not trying to find even an occasional snap for Sanders with the starters until he had to.

“As players and teammates, we have to be able to gel and be comfortable with each other in every situation,” Sanders said. “That takes time and work to develop the right chemistry and be on the same page.”

Sanders looked to build rapport with receiver Jerry Jeudy, who finished with three catches for 26 yards on Sunday.

Jeudy, who has 35 receptions for 421 yards and a touchdown through 12 games, was seen during the CBS broadcast having a heated exchange with Sanders on the Browns sideline in the second half. The discussion appeared to center on miscommunication about specific routes and plays.

“You have plays that you see things, and you want to talk through it, but those come up every single game, truly,” Stefanski said of the disagreement. “And sometimes it can be two offensive linemen who saw a play a little bit differently, and you’ve got to look at the tape and get on the same page. So that’s all it is.”

Despite the lack of practice, Sanders already has three of the Browns’ four longest pass plays this season. The 66-yard TD to Dylan Sampson against the Raiders last week was on a receiver screen, but the 34-yard touchdown to Harold Fannin came on a nicely thrown ball toward the left sideline. Fannin caught the ball at the San Francisco 9 and then outmuscled two defenders to reach the end zone.

Sanders is 3 of 8 on passes of 21-plus air yards; Gabriel was 2 of 10 in six starts.

With the Browns still managing the effects of the Deshaun Watson trade, starting Sanders for the remainder of the season will give the team essential insight into his abilities before entering an uncertain offseason.

Cleveland will have two picks in the first round of next year’s draft. If the season ended after this week, it would have the fifth and 26th picks.

The defense continues to play at a high level. San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey, who came in leading the league in scrimmage yards, was held to his second-lowest total of the season at 74 yards (53 rushing, 21 receiving).

Fourth down play-calling. The Browns were 0-for-4 going for it on fourth down, with the two fourth-and-1 failures looming large. Judkins was stopped for a 1-yard loss at the Niners 21 in the first quarter when Cleveland was in field-goal range. Fannin then had a bobbled snap and fumbled at the Browns 32 on a play that was rushed because the play clock was winding down and some on the offensive line were out of position.

Special teams, especially the punt teams, continue to be an issue. Gage Larvadain fumbled three punt returns, including his fumbled punt at the Cleveland 18 that the Niners converted into a touchdown. Skyy Moore’s 66-yard return to the Browns 16 also set up San Francisco’s first TD.

RB Quinshon Judkins had 91 rushing yards, his third 90-yard game this season, plus three catches for 18 yards. He now has 758 rushing yards, fifth most by a Browns rookie in a season.

Safety Ronnie Hickman allowed four receptions for 82 yards, including a 33-yard catch by George Kittle at the Browns 7-yard line that set up Matt Gay’s 25-yard field goal to give the 49ers a 10-8 halftime lead.

Stefanski announced DT Maliek Collins will undergo season-ending surgery on his quad. Guard Wyatt Teller will miss Sunday’s game against Tennessee because of a calf injury. OT Jack Conklin (concussion) and RB Dylan Sampson (calf) will be evaluated as the week progresses.

6: Consecutive games that Myles Garrett has had a sack, tied for the longest streak of his career (2020 and ’21). He has 15 of his league-high 19 sacks during the current run.

Cleveland hosts Tennessee (1-11), which has dropped seven straight. The Browns have won their past two meetings against the Titans.

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

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) is helped off the field by tight end David Njoku (85) and trainers during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski walks along the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

CHICAGO (AP) — Matthew Boyd struck out 10 while pitching into the sixth inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 on Wednesday.

Nico Hoerner had three hits for Chicago on a chilly and windy afternoon at Wrigley Field. Matt Shaw had two hits and two RBIs, and Alex Bregman reached three times in the rubber game of the three-game series.

Boyd (1-1) allowed two runs, one earned, and two hits over 5 2/3 innings in his second start of the season. The left-hander was tagged for six runs in 3 2/3 innings in a 10-4 loss to Washington on opening day.

Zach Neto had two of the Angels' four hits. Yusei Kikuchi (0-1) was charged with five runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Chicago grabbed control with five runs in the third inning. Miguel Amaya walked and scored from first on Hoerner's double into the gap in left-center. Bregman singled in Hoerner, and Dansby Swanson drove in Ian Happ with a sacrifice fly. Shaw and Pete Crow-Armstrong contributed two-out RBI singles.

First-year Los Angeles manager Kurt Suzuki wanted a replay review of the play at the plate when Amaya scored but was denied by the umpires because he took too long to decide on the challenge.

The Angels chased Boyd while scoring two runs in the sixth. Jo Adell singled in Neto, and Mike Trout scampered home on an error on Bregman at third.

The Cubs tacked on an unearned run in the seventh. Trout dropped Carson Kelly's leadoff flyball to center for an error, and Kelly scored on Shaw's one-out single.

Angels: Following an off day, LHP Reid Detmers (0-0, 5.79 ERA) starts for the Angels in their home opener on Friday night. RHP Bryan Woo (0-0, 3.00 ERA) takes the mound for Seattle.

Cubs: RHP Cade Horton (1-0, 2.84 ERA) starts the opener of a weekend series at Cleveland on Friday. LHP Joey Cantillo (0-0, 4.91 ERA) gets the ball for the Guardians.

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

Los Angeles Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Los Angeles Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, left, attempts to challenge a play with an umpire during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong watches his RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Chicago, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Cubs' Matt Shaw watches his RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Chicago, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Cubs starter Matthew Boyd delivers a pitch during a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Chicago, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)