Jerry Jeudy Opens Up On Shedeur Sanders As Their Cleveland Browns Partnership Gets A New Test

Shedeur Sanders prepares for his first start of the season against the New Orleans Saints.© Image via: X/@AdamSchefter

A year ago, Jerry Jeudy waved his hands at a sideline tablet while Shedeur Sanders shook his head, and the cameras caught every second. Now the Cleveland Browns receiver is calling his young quarterback a baller. With Deshaun Watson in the concussion protocol, Sanders is likely to make his first start of the season Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. He took the first-team reps in Wednesday's practice. The Browns sit at 5-3, and they cannot afford a slip now. So what changed between Jeudy and Sanders, and can it actually work on the field?

Jerry Jeudy And Shedeur Sanders Turn A Sideline Spat Into Trust

Jeudy did not offer a vague pat on the back. He pointed to what Sanders does on the field.

“Just his competitive nature, man, his big-play ability, the way he drives the ball downfield, gives the receiver chances and just make plays,” Jeudy said. “He's a baller, man.”

That praise carries weight because of last season's history. During a 26-8 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the two clashed over a play on a tablet. Jeudy finished with three catches for 26 yards. Afterward, he kept it short.

“We spoke about it,” Jeudy said. “We're good.”

Time has done the rest. Sanders competed for the starting job all offseason and through training camp, so he logged real snaps with the receivers. That matters because a backup rarely gets many reps in a normal game week.

“Yeah, the more reps, the better,” Jeudy said.

Yikes: Browns QB Shedeur Sanders has gone viral for acting extremely “immature” at his press conference when asked about watching film of the Saints. We have never seen anything like this.  https://t.co/5VWPEDVz6B

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 4, 2026

The veteran also has his own reasons to smile. He has 16 catches for 171 yards and no touchdowns, and rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston now start ahead of him. A quarterback who attacks downfield could change that.

Shedeur Sanders Prepares For The New Orleans Saints While Deshaun Watson Recovers

The clock is short. Concepcion knows it.

“It's going to be very, very critical for us to get these game-like reps in practice, get going full speed so whenever we get in the game that everything is going smoothly,” Concepcion said.

Sanders keeps his message simple.

“On my end, I just have to step up for the quarterback room, for the team, and do what I have to do,” Sanders said.

His rookie numbers leave room to grow. He threw seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, completed 56.6% of his passes and posted a 68.1 rating. Yet he now has a full offseason in Todd Monken's offense, and his coach likes what he has seen.

“Since I've been here, all he's done is work. All he's done is be diligent and ask great questions,” Monken said.

Teammates echo that. Denzel Ward has faced Sanders on the scout team all year.

“I'm sure he's ready,” Ward said.

The stakes are real. Watson has led five fourth-quarter game-winning drives, and Cleveland just lost 27-6 to Pittsburgh. Watson has not been officially ruled out, but Sanders is preparing like the starter. If he plays, Sunday will show whether a year of work finally pays off.