Kristina Roberts
Shedeur Sanders is back on the field — and that’s great news for the Cleveland Browns and his growing number of fans. After sitting out the team drills on Saturday due to some pain in his arm, the rookie quarterback returned to practice on Monday. Sanders, who was chosen by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, had many people worried when he missed time. But now, it looks like he’s ready to go again, just in time as the team gears up for its preseason games.
On Saturday, Sanders stayed out of most of the physical work, with the team saying it was because of “arm soreness.” That kind of statement always raises concern because even a small injury in the NFL can lead to big problems. But his return on Monday gave fans and coaches some peace of mind. Alongside him, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco also took part in the drills. Together, they seemed to handle most of the quarterback responsibilities for the day.
However, not all of the Browns’ quarterbacks were in action. Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel were both limited due to hamstring problems. Injuries like these are pretty common in training camp because players are working hard to get back into top shape after the off-season. With a joint practice scheduled against the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday and a preseason game with them on Friday, the Browns need as many healthy quarterbacks as possible.
Meanwhile, drama continues to unfold with another big NFL name: Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys. Even though there were rumors that Parsons had asked for a trade, he was still on the sideline during practice in Oxnard, California. His presence made people wonder what was really going on behind the scenes.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer gave a small update, saying, “Not gonna get a lot into it, but I expect Micah to be here.” This didn’t fully answer any questions, but it showed the team still wants him around. The situation grew even more dramatic last Friday when Parsons posted a message on social media saying he had officially asked for a trade. But team owner Jerry Jones quickly responded, saying he wasn’t planning to trade Parsons and wasn’t bothered by the request. This back-and-forth has kept Cowboys fans glued to the news, wondering what will happen next.
Other teams across the league are also dealing with important updates and injury news. The Indianapolis Colts released their unofficial depth chart and made a surprising announcement about their starting quarterback. It listed “Daniel Jones OR Anthony Richardson Sr.” as the top choice. This means that the coaches are still deciding who will start. Head coach Shane Steichen explained that both quarterbacks will get plenty of time to play in Thursday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. Fans are excited to see who will step up.
The Buffalo Bills are having a strange situation of their own. Running back James Cook didn’t come to practice on Sunday, and when asked why, he simply answered, “business.” He also skipped Monday’s practice. This raised eyebrows because it seems like he’s starting a “hold-in” — a quiet way of protesting or asking for something, usually more money or a better contract, while still staying connected to the team. The Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane didn’t seem to know this was coming. “I’d love to see Jimbo out there today. I don’t know that answer at this point this morning, whether that will happen or not,” Beane said. His words showed that even team leaders were surprised by Cook’s decision.
Injury concerns are also affecting wide receivers across several teams. A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles missed Sunday’s practice because of a hamstring problem. Khalil Shakir of the Buffalo Bills is now being watched week-to-week due to a high ankle sprain. The Los Angeles Chargers’ Ladd McConkey didn’t participate in weekend practices due to an unknown injury. Over in San Francisco, Jauan Jennings has been out of action since July 27 with a calf injury. And Marvin Harrison Jr., one of the most talked-about rookies with the Arizona Cardinals, had missed a few practices last week but was seen doing some light training on Saturday.
These small details matter a lot in training camps because they help shape how a team prepares for the season. Players fighting for a starting spot can’t afford to be hurt. And veterans want to prove they still have what it takes. For rookies like Shedeur Sanders, every practice is a chance to prove that they belong in the league.
Sanders’ return, in particular, is important for the Browns because it brings more stability to their quarterback room. With Pickett and Gabriel dealing with injuries, having Sanders and Flacco healthy gives the team better chances to prepare for upcoming games. This also gives Sanders more time to work with his teammates, learn the playbook, and show what he can do on the field.
As the NFL training camps continue, more stories will develop. Some players will rise, others might fall, and a few surprises are always around the corner. But for now, the return of Shedeur Sanders is a bright spot in a week filled with question marks, injuries, and off-field drama.
