Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit on Sept. 28, 2025.

Joe Flacco didn't perform particularly well in the Cleveland Browns' first three games after being named the team's starter to open the 2025 NFL season.

That trend continued in the first half of Cleveland's Week 4 game against the Detroit Lions.

Flacco completed a respectable 10 of 15 passes for 110 yards in the first 30 minutes of his game against Detroit, but his performance was marred by two interceptions. That included one during which he appeared to throw the ball to nobody in particular before Kerby Joseph managed to plant himself under it.

Will that be enough for Kevin Stefanski to consider benching Flacco? Perhaps, but even if he does, it won't be Shedeur Sanders who comes on to replace him.

Is Shedeur Sanders playing today?

Sanders is not likely to play for the Browns in their Week 4 game against the Lions. He will only be available as Cleveland's emergency third quarterback after being designated inactive for the game.

In order for Sanders to see the field against Detroit, both Flacco and Dillon Gabriel would need to be hurt and unable to return.

Why isn't Shedeur Sanders starting?

While Sanders drew a lot of attention during the 2025 NFL offseason, he was always facing an uphill battle to become Cleveland's No. 1 quarterback.

After being selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders was routinely listed as Cleveland's No. 4 quarterback behind Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Gabriel. That left Sanders needing to make up ground in the starting quarterback race.

The Colorado product was presented a key opportunity to insert himself into the competition during Week 1 of the preseason. All three of the quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart were sidelined against the Carolina Panthers, allowing Sanders to play a majority of the snaps.

Sanders performed well in that game, looking poised and showing an ability to make tight-window completions. He played the bulk of the game and completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-10 Browns victory.

However, Sanders was unable to continue building on that momentum over Cleveland's final two preseason games. He suffered an oblique injury in practice and was held out of the team's Week 2 preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles because of it. He then struggled badly in the Browns' final preseason game, completing 3 of 6 passes for 14 yards while being sacked five times for 41 yards.

That prevented Sanders from emerging as a true challenger for Flacco as the starter and for Gabriel, who was selected 50 picks ahead of him in the 2025 NFL season, in the race for the backup job.

Still, Sanders managed to make Cleveland's 53-man roster. He became the team's No. 3 quarterback after the Brown traded Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders and has occupied that role over the first month of the season.

Who is Browns backup QB?

Dillon Gabriel is currently the Browns' backup quarterback. The third-round rookie earned the job during the preseason and would get the first crack at replacing Flacco should the Browns decide to bench the 40-year-old veteran.

Gabriel has played sparingly to open the 2025 NFL season, completing all three of his passes for 19 yards and a touchdown.

Browns QB depth chart

The Browns currently have five quarterbacks in their organization. Four are healthy and three are on the 53-man roster. Below is the pecking order among the healthy signal-callers:

  1. Joe Flacco
  2. Dillon Gabriel
  3. Shedeur Sanders
  4. Bailey Zappe (practice squad)

The Browns also still have Deshaun Watson under contract. The 30-year-old isn't expected to play in 2025 after tearing his Achilles twice in a three-month span. He is presently on Cleveland's physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Shedeur Sanders playing today? What to know about Browns QB depth chart

Reporting by Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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