Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders will make first NFL start for Browns on Sunday in Las Vegas

BEREA Ohio Las Vegas seems like the perfect place for Shedeur Sanders first NFL start The Browns flashy rookie quarterback with the Hall of Fame father bright smile and huge fan base will start Sunday in arguably America s glitziest city against the Raiders as the Browns turn to him while fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel recovers from a concussion Sanders replaced an injured Gabriel for the second half of last week s - loss to Baltimore It was a shaky debut as Sanders who was drafted by Cleveland in the fifth round completed just of passes with an interception He was also sacked twice and fumbled once Browns coach Kevin Stefanski commented Wednesday that Gabriel remains in the concussion protocol but is improving Sanders was fourth on Cleveland s depth chart during training camp behind Kenny Pickett Joe Flacco and Gabriel But the Browns who have spent decades in search of a franchise QB traded both Pickett and Flacco before starting Gabriel in six games Sanders will be the nd quarterback to start for the Browns since and the th rookie They ve gone - in their debuts Sanders the son of Hall of Fame cornerback and current Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders had been projected as a first-round pick in April s draft However all teams passed on the Colorado standout before the Browns selected him with the No overall pick two rounds after they took Gabriel While Sanders was playing his first regular-season tournament on Sunday his home was burglarized The Medina County Sheriff s Office reported three individuals wearing masks and gloves stole approximately in property from the QB s residence Sanders was forced into action against the Ravens after Gabriel was ruled out at halftime Cleveland s crowd roared when he took the field and there were loud cheers for his completion Sanders did not take any snaps with the Browns starting offense since being drafted and it proved He held onto the ball too long a challenge when he was in college as the Ravens forced him out of the pocket Sanders did make a couple of nice throws while trying to rally the Browns - in the closing moments and nearly threw a game-tying TD pass Afterward Sanders was tough while grading his own performance I don t think I played good I don t think I played good at all Sanders declared I think it s a lot of things we need to look at during the week and go and just get relaxed On Wednesday Stefanski complimented Sanders resolve Related Articles CU Buffs Deion Sanders hopes to have strong relationship with next AD Deion Sanders emotional moment Shedeur s NFL debut with the Browns Keeler CU Buffs next AD has to convince Deion Sanders to fire friends hire better coaches Wish them luck Jaguars Travis Hunter has season-ending knee surgery Keeler Broncos DC Vance Joseph saved Sean Payton s bacon And VJ s earned second chance to be NFL head coach Obviously he battled to the end he reported We re right there on that final drive I think there s so numerous things that all of us can do better in those moments so we can finish with a win but man all of our guys and then definitely Shedeur they battled to the end Stefanski commented Sanders will get all the first-team reps in practice this week The Browns had been criticized in selected circles for not having the backup QB better prepared for his debut AP NFL https apnews com hub NFL Want more Broncos news Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis