The Shedeur Sanders hype appeared to crater on Sunday as the Cleveland Browns rookie struggled in the team’s loss against the San Francisco 49ers and he faced questions about head coach Kevin Stefanski’s play-calling.

Sanders had a touchdown pass to Harold Fannin Jr., which helped Cleveland get the lead in the second quarter and caught the attention of LeBron James. But it was the only bit of offense that resulted in points for the Browns.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

After that touchdown, the Browns punted the ball away twice. Fannin, later, fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the 49ers. Browns punt returner Gage Larvadain also muffed the ball and the 49ers recovered. The Browns also turned the ball over twice in the fourth quarter.

Sanders was asked about Stefanski’s aggressiveness to go for it on fourth down in their own territory.

"I mean first that’s a rude question to ask if I think if it was a great call by my coach," Sanders said. "… I like being out there playing. So, whatever that comes with it comes with. We’re not going to be here and ever point no finger at no coach or do anything like that. That’s extremely disrespectful. That’s not even in my place."

PANTHERS REACH 7 WINS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2022 WITH UPSET VICTORY OVER RAMS

Sanders didn’t turn the ball over. But he was 16-of-25 with 149 passing yards. The San Francisco defense got to him three times.

He lamented being unable to rally his teammates to get back into the game.

"Even when I shoot my shot and I miss, I just got to keep shooting and keep bringing everybody together. I know the offense and the team is counting on me to do my job and do what I gotta do and I feel like I failed them today," he added.

Stefanski said Sanders will make start No. 3 against the Tennessee Titans next week.

LeBron James praised Cleveland Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders for his touchdown pass in the first half against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Sanders found Harold Fannin Jr. with no 49ers defenders around him, and he took the pass and ran for a touchdown. The 34-yard touchdown pass set up a successful 2-point conversion attempt. The Browns had a brief lead.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"Helluva read and pass 12! Keep going!" the Los Angeles Lakers star wrote on X.

It was Sanders’ second touchdown pass of the season. He was making the second start of his career after he was named QB1 earlier in the week over Dillon Gabriel, who cleared concussion protocol. He won last week against the Las Vegas Raiders.

BUCS' BAKER MAYFIELD FINDS 320-POUND LINEMAN FOR TOUCHDOWN PASS VS CARDINALS

Cleveland hasn’t had a great season despite Myles Garrett putting together a career year with his sack totals. Sanders is the third quarterback Cleveland has used this season after initially going with Joe Flacco to begin the 2025 season.

The Browns selected Sanders in the fifth round of the draft, and he had to work hard to move up the depth chart after starting the year at QB3.

With all the noise and rumors around him, Sanders said earlier in the week he was just focused on the 49ers.

"What people do outside the building isn’t really in my control. It’s not in my power. It’s not like I can go out there and tell ’em to do whatever," Sanders said. "Coach Stefanski, he’s been coaching since I got here, and we’ve been doing a very great job with everything that’s going on. He tells me what I need to do on and off the field. We’ve definitely grown, our relationship and everything has grown."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.