Former NFL star Trent Green praised Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders for his mental toughness after Sanders led the team to a 24-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite a poor debut with only four completions, Sanders threw his first touchdown pass and demonstrated resilience following a subpar performance in his previous start against the Ravens.
Green, a Super Bowl champion and two-time Pro Bowler in his NFL career, highlighted that Sanders’ ability to bounce back from a 4-of-16 performance in his first start against the Ravens showed the mental fortitude required to thrive in high-pressure situations. “The fact that he was able to come back off of that performance he had last week where he was 4-of-16, it was a bad game,” Green told Fox News Digital. “But you don’t get a lot of reps. You’re a young quarterback, you get thrown into a situation like that. I love the way that he responded.”
Green expressed his admiration for Sanders’ composure under pressure, noting that the combination of the name on the back of his jersey and the attention surrounding him as a player required significant mental strength to overcome. “You have to have mental toughness to be able to do that.”
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski also voiced his confidence in Sanders, acknowledging that first starts for young quarterbacks are always a work in progress. “First start for any young quarterback, you’re always going to make sure the operation is how you want it, and I thought by and large was good,” Stefanski said. “There’s things that we can clean up and obviously that goes on all of us.”
Stefanski emphasized that Sanders has the mental attitude necessary to make adjustments to the speed of the game and improve his performance. “Are there things that he can do better? Absolutely. We’ve already talked about that with him. He has the mentality that he will make the adjustments to the speed of the game, make the adjustments to what people are giving us, to make those improvements.”
Sanders is set to receive his second career NFL start later this week when the Browns face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13. Despite the challenges of his first start, his performance against the Raiders showcased his potential as a young quarterback navigating the pressures of the NFL. The Browns’ victory over the Raiders marked a crucial step in Sanders’ development as he continues to gain experience and confidence in the league.
As the NFL season progresses, the focus remains on Sanders’ ability to build upon his recent success and refine his skills to become a reliable starter for the Browns. Both Green and Stefanski have expressed confidence in his potential, highlighting the importance of mental toughness and adaptability in a quarterback’s journey toward excellence.