Shedeur Sanders gets major blow before first Browns start as key offensive weapon suffers injury
Shedeur Sanders is preparing for his first start with the Browns, but Cleveland’s rookie quarterback could be without his most productive offensive weapon against the Saints.
The Cleveland Browns could turn to Shedeur Sanders as their starting quarterback against the New Orleans Saints , but they face uncertainty about whether their top offensive weapon will be fully healthy.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. appeared on the injury report for the first time on Thursday with a groin issue, adding another concern for an offense already preparing to play without Deshaun Watson .
Fannin was listed as a limited participant in Thursday’s practice after not appearing on Wednesday’s initial report. Cleveland has not yet assigned him an official game designation, so Friday’s report will be key in determining his chances of playing.
The injury does not mean the tight end is ruled out for Sunday, but his history forces the Browns to proceed with caution. Fannin missed the end of his rookie season after aggravating a groin injury during a touchdown catch in Week 17 . The initial discomfort occurred in a practice before that game, and he later required offseason surgery before returning for training camp.
The situation comes at a difficult time for Cleveland, which is looking to bounce back from a 27-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers . Watson missed his second consecutive practice while remaining in the concussion protocol, leaving Shedeur Sanders as the primary option to make his first start of the season.
Harold Fannin arrives after his best NFL performance
Concern over Fannin’s injury comes right after the best game of his young career.
Against Pittsburgh, the tight end delivered a career performance with 10 catches for 154 yards — both personal bests. He also hauled in a 37-yard reception, though the Browns were unable to convert his production into points.
Through eight games, Fannin leads Cleveland with 35 receptions and 411 receiving yards, along with three touchdowns.
His impact has grown significantly in recent weeks. Before his breakout against the Steelers, he recorded six catches for 91 yards against Tennessee, totaling 245 receiving yards over his last two games.
“Harold is an improving player, really good hands, run after catch. He’s a bull,” coach Todd Monken said Monday. “He’s only going to continue to get better as a blocker. So it behooves us to try and get him the ball more often.”
Fannin’s development has given Cleveland a key piece alongside rookie receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. A possible absence or limited role for the tight end would be a significant blow for Sanders, especially since he is one of the few offensive players with prior chemistry with the young quarterback.
Browns reshape their tight end group
Fannin’s situation became even more relevant after Cleveland made a move at the position.
The Browns released rookie Carsen Ryan just one day after elevating him from the practice squad, leaving Fannin and Blake Whiteheart as the only active tight ends on the 53-man roster .
John FitzPatrick remains on the practice squad, while rookie Joe Royer continues on the reserve/non-football illness list.
Ryan had appeared in seven games this season, and Cleveland did not immediately announce a replacement to fill his roster spot.
If Fannin is unable to play or is limited, Whiteheart could take on a much larger role against the Saints . The franchise will also need to evaluate whether it needs to add another tight end for greater depth at the position.
As Sanders prepares for a potential first career start, Fannin’s physical status will be one of the key factors in determining how many tools the young quarterback will have at his disposal.
