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By Evan Massey
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Cleveland Browns are set to kick off the 2025 NFL season. They will take on Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in today's matchup.
Leading the way for the Browns at quarterback this afternoon will be veteran signal-caller Joe Flacco. Behind him, the team will have Dillon Gabriel as his primary backup.
Many fans are hoping to see Shedeur Sanders take the field under center at some point this year. Cleveland has him penciled in as its No. 3 quarterback to begin the season. In Week 1, he will begin the year as the emergency quarterback.
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As shared in the Browns' inactive list for Sunday's season opener, Sanders has been listed. He would only be able to enter the game if both quarterbacks ahead of him go down with an injury or are disqualified for another reason.
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Who else had their name on Cleveland's first inactive list of the season? Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr., offensive guard Zak Zinter, offensive tackle KT Leveston, and wide receiver Gage Larvadain are also out for this week's game.
Throughout the season, the calls for Sanders to play will get louder. If Flacco starts off the year slowly, those calls will become deafening very quickly.
Not long ago, a disappointing report was made about Sanders' outlook this season.
According to NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Sanders is not expected to see the field this season unless something unforeseen happens. The Browns do not plan to play him this year.
"However, don't plan on seeing the fifth-round rookie on the field this season unless things get really weird," Russini wrote. "Cleveland believes in Joe Flacco's experience and Dillon Gabriel's development as the backup."
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While he's facing an uphill battle to find the field, Sanders has handled himself the right way. He has been a good teammate and he has continued working hard.
Anything can happen in the NFL. Sanders could find himself on the field much earlier than expected.
It will be interesting to see what the 2025 season has in store for the young quarterback. At least for Week 1, he's the No. 3 emergency quarterback for Cleveland.
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