Trending
Shedeur Sanders has been selected as a replacement QB on the AFC's roster for next week's Pro Bowl Games, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the NFL has not announced roster changes. Yahoo Sports was the first to report on Sanders' addition.
The Cleveland Browns rookie was a fifth-round pick after many thought he would go earlier in the draft. Sanders played in eight games, and started the Browns' final seven games, going 3-4. He had a 56.6% completion rate and 68.1 passer rating along with 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
New England's Drake Maye, Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo's Josh Allen were on the original AFC roster when the selections were announced on Dec. 23.
Maye is unable to participate because of the Patriots advancing to the Super Bowl while Herbert and Allen dealt with injuries at the end of their seasons.
Other AFC quarterbacks, including Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes, Indianapolis' Daniel Jones and Denver's Bo Nix also suffered season-ending injuries. Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence was one of the top alternates, but Lawrence opted not to play in the event.
Sanders was not selected as one of the four alternate selections at quarterback when the rosters were first announced.
Finding players to fill out Pro Bowl rosters because of injuries has always been a challenge, but it has increased since the NFL did away with the exhibition full-contact all-star game format and went to a weeklong skills competition and flag football game beginning with the 2022 season.
Tyler Huntley made it as an alternate three years ago after throwing two touchdowns and three interceptions in four starts with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Pro Bowl Games will take place in San Francisco ahead of the Super Bowl. Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (NFC) and Steve Young (AFC) are the coaches for the flag football showdown on Feb. 3.
Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase has 2nd interview with Browns for head coach opening
------
Browns get closer
Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase had a second interview with the Cleveland Browns for their head coaching vacancy on Monday.
The Browns interviewed Scheelhaase in Los Angeles, one day after the Rams lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC championship game. His first interview was on Jan. 16.
The 35-year-old Scheelhaase is in his second year with the Rams. He was an offensive assistant and pass game specialist in 2024 before being promoted to his current position this season. He spent six seasons at Iowa State (2018-23), including as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022 and '23.
Las Vegas and Pittsburgh also interviewed Scheelhaase. He was scheduled to meet with Buffalo Monday night.
Cleveland fired Kevin Stefanski on Jan. 5 following six seasons and a 46-58 record. Stefanski -- who was quickly hired as Atlanta's head coach -- was a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year and led the Browns to the playoffs in 2020 and '23.
The Browns were 5-12 this season and 8-26 the past two years.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, former Baltimore offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Jacksonville offensive coordinator Grant Udinski have had second interviews. Washington running backs coach Anthony Lynn interviewed on Saturday.
Udinski pulled out of consideration on Monday, while Monken is expected to become the New York Giants' offensive coordinator.
The six coaches hired by owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam since they bought the team in 2012 have a 73-139-1 regular-season record, the second-worst mark in the NFL.