Browns' Shedeur Sanders is keeping his focus on improving after a strong 3rd start

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Shedeur Sanders is still learning to decipher NFL defenses, recognize coverages and make much smarter decisions.

He can already read the room.

The rookie quarterback's path to starting for the Browns has been curious and circuitous, to say the least. But just because he's currently atop the depth chart, and will stay there the rest of this season, Sanders isn't stationary or satisfied.

Coming off the best performance of his young career, leading to coach Kevin Stefanski naming him the starter for the final four games, Sanders said before Wednesday’s practice he's not concerned with whether he has shown Cleveland enough to end its long search for a franchise QB.

He's staying in the moment.

“That’s not in my focus,” Sanders said. “My focus right now is the team we’re playing ahead, the Bears. So anything past that I’m not really focused on, honestly. I’m thankful for it, but I’m not content with my situation with everything.”

The former Colorado star has come a long way since tumbling to the fifth round of this year's draft. The 23-year-old was fourth string throughout training camp and the preseason before two trades and rookie Dillon Gabriel's concussion catapulted Sanders.

In just his third pro start on Sunday, Sanders threw three touchdown passes, ran for a score and finished with 364 yards against Tennessee. He joined Joe Burrow as the only rookie QBs in league history with at least 350 yards passing, three TDs and a rushing TD in a game.

The performance became a footnote as the Browns (3-10) came up short in an embarrassing 31-29 loss to the two-win Titans (2-11) and their rookie QB, Cam Ward.

Following the game, Sanders caught up on the field with Ward, last year's No. 1 pick who pressed him on his plans for the upcoming offseason.

Unlike Ward, Sanders can't afford to think that far ahead.

“This is my life here. So we on two different spectrums right now,” Sanders said. ”I got to focus on playing my best and being the best player I can for the team. And obviously the situations are different. I know he puts his all into these games and these final four games, but it’s just a little bit different because you don’t know what could happen.

“I just go here, enjoy my day, work hard, do everything I can. If I’m here, I’m here. If I’m not, I’m not. It’s nothing in my control. I try to control what I can control — going out there, making the right reads. Going out there, doing the right things, being the person I am and things will fall how they’re supposed to.”

Things rarely go as planned in Cleveland, but Sanders is giving the Browns some hope in another rotten season.

He's shown significant improvement each game, whether connecting on a downfield throw or firing the ball out of bounds to avoid a sack.

That's not to say he's been perfect.

In the third quarter last week, Sanders, who since college has had a bad habit of holding the ball too long, tried to create something out of nothing. It cost him.

Scrambling to buy time after the protection broke down, Sanders forced a pass down the middle that was easily intercepted by the Titans. The turnover set up Tennessee's go-ahead score and set the stage for the Titan's win.

It was another tough lesson for Sanders, who said changing his ways isn't problematic.

“Not hard. It just took a little explaining," he said, flashing a knowing smile. "It’s a negative thing to happen for me to just slow down. I look at everything and I understand, OK, this is what I was trying to do, and in this situation, this that’s what you should do.

“And sometimes it go your way, then they’ll be like, ‘that was lit’ and sometimes it don’t. So you got to limit those that wasn’t the best risk in certain situations, certain times of the game.”

This week presents another tough test for Sanders, who will face a Chicago defense leading the league with 18 interceptions.

Stefanski, whose future could hinge on how the Browns play in December, has been pleased with his QB's steady progress.

“In terms of a light turning on, those type of things, I just think he’s committed to getting better every single week,” he said. "And that’s what you want.”

Notes: The temperature could be in the single digits in Chicago. Sanders is doing all he can not to think about the icy weather. “One thing you don’t want to be is mentally defeated before you get there,” he said. “Whatever comes with however it feels out there just comes with it.” ... Several starters missed practice, including CB Denzel Ward (calf), S Grant Delpit (illness), DT Mason Graham (rib), TE David Njoku (knee) and WR Cedric Tillman (concussion). Stefanski ruled out RG Wyatt Teller (calf) for Sunday.

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) gets help from a teammate after scoring a touchdown on a run in the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) throws a pass under pressure from Tennessee Titans defenders in the second half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) escapes a tackle attempt by Tennessee Titans' Cedric Gray (33) in the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward, left, and Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) greet each other after an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve reduced its key interest rate by a quarter-point for the third time in a row Wednesday but signaled that it may leave rates unchanged in the coming months, a move that could attract ire from President Donald Trump, who has demanded steep reductions to borrowing costs.

In a statement released after a two-day meeting, the Fed’s rate-setting committee suggested further rate cuts would depend on signs that the economy is faltering. And in a set of quarterly economic projections, Fed officials signaled they expect to lower rates just once next year.

Wednesday's cut reduced the rate to about 3.6%, the lowest it has been in nearly three years. Lower rates from the Fed can bring down borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards over time, though market forces can also affect those rates.

Three Fed officials dissented from the move, the most dissents in six years and a sign of deep divisions on a committee that traditionally works by consensus. Two officials voted to keep the Fed's rate unchanged, while Stephen Miran, whom Trump appointed in September, voted for a half point cut.

December’s meeting could usher in a more contentious period for the Fed. Officials are split between those who support reducing rates to bolster hiring and those who’d prefer to keep rates unchanged because inflation remains above the central bank’s 2% target. Unless inflation shows clear signs of coming fully under control, or unemployment worsens, those divisions will likely remain.

At a press conference following the announcement of the rate cut, Powell signaled that the Fed's key rate was close to a level that neither restricts or stimulates the economy. As a result, officials can now take a step back and evaluate where the economy heads next.

Powell did, however, rule out an increase in rates.

“What you see is some people feel we should stop here and we’re in the right place and should wait, and some people think we should cut more next year,” Powell said.

And Trump could name a new Fed chair as soon as later this month to replace Powell when his term ends in May. Trump’s new chair is likely to push for sharper rate cuts than many officials may support.

A stark sign of the Fed’s divisions was the wide range of cuts that the 19 members of the Fed’s rate-setting committee penciled in for 2026. Seven projected no cuts next year, while eight forecast that the central bank would implement two or more reductions. Four supported just one. Only 12 out of 19 members vote on rate decisions.

The Fed met against the backdrop of elevated inflation that has frustrated many Americans, with prices higher for groceries, rents, and utilities. Consumer prices have jumped 25% in the five years since COVID.

“We hear loud and clear how people are experiencing really high costs," Powell said Wednesday. "A lot of that isn’t the current rate of inflation, a lot of that is imbedded high costs due to higher inflations in 2022-2023.”

In a delayed report last week, the government said the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge remained high in September, with both overall and core prices rising 2.8% from a year earlier. That is far below the spikes in inflation three years ago but still painful for many households after the big run-up since 2020.

The Fed typically keeps its key rate elevated to combat inflation, while it often reduces borrowing costs when unemployment worsens to spur more spending and hiring.

Adding to the Fed's challenges, job gains have slowed sharply this year and the unemployment rate has risen for three straight months to 4.4%. While that is still a low rate historically, it is the highest in four years. Layoffs are also muted, so far, as part of what many economists call a “low hire, low fire” job market.

Still, Powell said the committee reduced borrowing costs out of concern that the job market is even weaker than it appears. While government data shows that the economy has added just 40,000 jobs a month since April, Powell said that figure could be revised lower by as much as 60,000, which would mean employers have actually been shedding an average of 20,000 jobs a month since the spring.

“It’s a labor market that seems to have significant downside risks," Powell told reporters. "People care about that. That’s their jobs.”

At the same time, Powell noted that there are signs inflation is continuing to cool. Tariffs have made many goods more expensive, but that could peak early next year, he said, while the cost of services — hotel rooms, entertainment, and restaurant meals — has been flat.

“If you get away from tariffs, inflation is in the low 2s," Powell said, near the Fed's target.

The lack of economic data since the government shutdown ended Nov. 13 has contributed to the divisions at the Fed. But when Fed officials next meet in late January, they’ll have up to three months of backlogged reports to consider. If those figures show that the job market has worsened, the Fed could reduce rates again in January.

By contrast, if hiring has stabilized while inflation remains elevated, they may hold off on additional cuts for several months.

The Fed met against the backdrop of Trump’s move to name a new Fed chair to replace Powell in May.

In an interview with Politico published Tuesday, Trump said “yes” when asked if reducing rates “immediately” was a litmus test for a new Fed chair. Trump has hinted that he will likely pick Kevin Hassett, his top economic adviser.

Hassett has often called for lower borrowing costs, but this week has been more circumspect. In an interview Tuesday on CNBC, when asked how many more rate cuts he would support, Hassett did not give a specific answer and said, “What you need to do is watch the data.”

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Federal Reserve, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Federal Reserve, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Federal Reserve, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Federal Reserve, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

FILE _ Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks at a news conference after the Federal Open Market Committee meeting Oct. 29, 2025, at the Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)