3 weeks ago
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Shedeur Sanders was swarmed by fans on Thursday as the Browns quarterback made a surprise appearance at a high school football game in Ohio.
The fifth-round pick is gearing up for the Browns' final preseason game on Saturday against the Rams after missing their matchup versus the Eagles with an oblique injury.
But he enjoyed a bit of free time in this week as he attended the Avon- St. Ignatius matchup in northeast Ohio.
Video from the surprise outing shows high school-aged fans mobbing Sanders for selfies, with one appearing to offer the passer some words of encouragement at one point.
The comments brought a smile to Sanders' face and the pair even shared a hug as more fans around them tried to get a piece of the rookie passer.
Overall, Sanders appeared to be in good spirits as he posed for some selfies before what will be a significant preseason test for him.
Shedeur Sanders was swarmed by selfie-seeking fans at a high school football game
Sanders appeared to get some words of encouragement from one fan at the game
His teammates Greg Newsome and Dylan Sampson reportedly attended the high school game as well, which Avon won 40-14.
Sanders impressed in his preseason debut against the Panthers as he threw two touchdowns.
But he has remained buried on Cleveland's depth chart as their fourth-string passer behind starter Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.
Flacco and Gabriel are set to play ahead of Sanders on Saturday, per the Browns' website, though it will be another valuable chance for Sanders to prove his worth to his franchise and also the league.
The former Colorado star has found himself in an unexpected position after tumbling to the fifth round of the draft in April, as he's now battling for a spot on the Browns' roster rather than taking up the starting job some thought he was destined for.
Sanders is gearing up to play in his second preseason game against the Rams on Saturday
Even the team's owner Jimmy Haslam, publicly distanced himself from the organization's decision to select Sanders while speaking to reporters last month.
'At the end of the day, that's [GM] Andrew Berry's call. Andrew made the call to pick Shedeur.'
However, Sanders certainly silenced some of his critics when he passed for 138 yards, two touchdowns and completed 14-of-23 in his preseason debut against Carolina.
He'll be eager to prove himself again this weekend against LA.
