Shedeur Sanders has spent much of his time on the bench since being drafted by the Browns. Although he’s not QB1, fans had sky-high expectations, especially after his decorated run with the Colorado Buffaloes, where his college stats made headlines nationwide.
But since joining the Cleveland Browns, reasons for his inactivity have continued to pile up. The latest twist came ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Patriots.
Reportedly, Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is dealing with back tightness and was officially ruled out for the game. Sources say Sanders reported discomfort Saturday morning, sidelining him once again, while Bailey Zappe stepped in as Dillon Gabriel’s backup. Yet, fans aren’t buying it.
Across social media, speculation exploded, with many convinced the Shedeur Sanders injury is fake, another excuse to keep the young star from getting his shot at the NFL spotlight.
Browns Under Fire Over Shedeur Sanders Injury
Within hours of Shedeur’s injury report, fan theories began swirling. On YouTube, the popular channel IsmokeHiphop Live released a video questioning the legitimacy of the injury, boldly suggesting it was fabricated to keep Shedeur Sanders starting opportunities limited.
“They’re uncomfortable with him being in the second string… they think he makes Dillon so uncomfortable,” the host said. “This is why Dillon is playing horrible… because Shedeur is right there waiting. So let’s just diagnose him with a fake injury.”
The comments section on social media erupted even further. Fans accused the Browns of deliberately sidelining Sanders. One user argued, “They knew Pats was gonna light Dillon weak ass up, and Kevin was gonna get forced to play him, so they made him inactive so they literally couldn’t play him. Shit is clear as day.”
Another echoed the sentiment, writing, “They doing everything to make sure this man never ever sees the field. 😂😂😂”
Comparisons poured in, too. One fan referenced another NFL quarterback’s resilience: “Back tightness? 🤣 Bo Nix sustained three transverse process fractures during a game and still played every snap. He led his team to the playoffs. 😎🤟🤍🧡💙.”
The implication? If Nix could push through a real injury, Sanders’ back tightness shouldn’t have been enough to keep him sidelined unless there was another motive.
Theories kept coming. “They tryna sabotage him and throw him to the wolves with no reps at practice,” one fan wrote. “I’d play hurt too until otherwise, smart.”
Another joked that “They would pull Sebastian Janikowski out of retirement, put him at 2nd, keep Sanders 3rd.” Someone else quipped, “Maybe he’s got back tightness from sitting on the bench.”
Beneath the humor, though, was real bitterness. “I want them to keep losing for the way they’ve done SHADEUR,” one frustrated supporter commented.
Others went even further, calling for investigations: “The FBI should be investigating the Browns’ organization.”
The most pointed questions came from fans who claimed to have seen Sanders pregame. “How is Shedeur hurt without getting any reps?” one asked. “He was on the field BEFORE the game, THROWING DARTS. He didn’t appear injured.‼️” Another laughed, “They act like we didn’t see him skipping into practice.”
As of now, neither Kevin Stefanski nor the Browns organization has addressed the growing storm. But one thing is clear. The Shedeur Sanders news cycle is alive and burning.
Whether this injury was genuine or a strategic move, fans are demanding answers, and until they get them, the whispers around Cleveland Browns Shedeur Sanders aren’t going away anytime soon.