Shedeur Sanders’ training camp work has reportedly been affected by a blister on his throwing hand, a small injury that may help explain why his passing has looked a little less sharp during Browns practices.
Jonathan Peterlin of 92.3 The Fan said Tuesday that he had heard Sanders was dealing with a blister issue and added that people around the rookie quarterback were not being sensitive enough to the problem. Peterlin also pointed to Sanders’ toughness, noting that he stayed in a game against the Chicago Bears last season even after taking a brutal hit to the hand area. His point was simple: a blister on a throwing hand can affect grip, feel and ball placement, even if the player keeps practicing.
The Browns have not updated Sanders’ injury status
So far, the Cleveland Browns have not provided an official injury report update for Sanders. That leaves the situation in a gray area for now, especially with the team in the middle of an open competition for its starting quarterback job.
The Browns listed Sanders and Deshaun Watson as co-starters on their first unofficial depth chart, and Todd Monken has made clear the competition remains open. On Saturday, Watson unexpectedly took the first-team reps on Sanders’ day to work with the starting offense, though Sanders still practiced. That only adds to the significance of every rep as the Browns get closer to game action.
Watson missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from two surgeries on his right Achilles tendon, so the Browns continue to evaluate both quarterbacks carefully. Monken said the staff has more to judge once preseason arrives, and he noted that body language and the ability to move on to the next play are part of what the coaches are watching.
Preseason will offer the next real checkpoint
The Browns are preparing for their preseason opener against the Chicago Bears on August 15, which should provide the first real chance to see how Sanders looks in a game setting if the blister remains an issue. For now, the situation appears more frustrating than serious, but in a quarterback battle, even a minor hand problem can matter.
Sanders has enough time to recover before the spotlight shifts to preseason action, but the Browns will want a clean look at his throwing hand soon. If the blister is truly the cause of the uneven camp work, it may be a temporary issue rather than a setback. Still, with the starting job up for grabs, every practice rep counts.
