If you’ve been watching Browns camp this week with one eye on your phone and one eye on Folsom Field nostalgia, you’re not alone.
Because Shedeur Sanders is making moves, and we’re not just talking about scrambling out of the pocket.
The former Colorado star took a big step in Cleveland this week — earning his first reps against the Browns’ first-team defense, one of the best units in the NFL. And while it wasn’t flashy, it was efficient, composed, and exactly what he needed.
Make no mistake: this isn’t just about camp reps. This is about a fifth-round pick showing he’s not here to be a camp arm. Shedeur is trying to win the starting job.
The numbers don’t lie — but the poise is what stands out
Going 6-of-10 in a training camp session doesn’t scream headline. But context matters.
- Shedeur got those reps against a nasty first-team Browns defense.
- He worked mostly with the second-team offense, so nothing was gift-wrapped.
- No touchdowns, sure — but also no picks.
What we’ve come to expect from Shedeur — smart decisions, control in chaos, eyes downfield even when the pocket breaks — all showed up on tape. Even Cleveland’s media took notice.
According to ESPN Cleveland, Shedeur is now 42-of-60 through seven camp days, with five touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Let me say that again for the folks in the back: zero picks.
Shedeur’s using his legs — and it's helping his chances
One thing that was always debated during his time in Boulder? Whether Shedeur could use his legs more without taking unnecessary hits.
This week in Cleveland, we saw glimpses of what that evolution looks like.
He’s moving better, creating more outside the pocket, and delivering the ball quickly. Coaches love it. And with Kenny Pickett sidelined due to a hamstring injury, the window for more reps just got a little wider.
Now, nobody’s crowning Shedeur the Week 1 starter yet. Joe Flacco’s the veteran and Dillon Gabriel was a third-round pick — both have their place in the pecking order. But Shedeur’s creeping up, and you can feel it.
Browns coaches are watching. So are we.
One thing’s for sure — head coach Kevin Stefanski isn’t mailing this thing in. By giving Shedeur reps against the starters, he’s signaling that this isn’t just “QB development.” This is a real competition.
And it should be. Because Shedeur has shown growth every week.
Remember his 2024 numbers at CU?
- 4,134 passing yards
- 37 touchdowns
- 74% completion
- Just 10 picks
Say what you want about sacks or scrambling, but the dude is a machine.
And now? He’s doing it against NFL defenses — quietly, consistently, and with ice-in-his-veins demeanor we saw every Saturday in Boulder.
Buffs fans should be proud — and maybe a little fired up
Whether you’re rocking a Buffs jersey or secretly ordering a Browns one in the mail (no judgment), this feels good.
Watching Shedeur compete — really compete — for a starting job in the NFL is a reminder of just how far CU Football has come. Shedeur is living proof.
Now, with the Browns’ preseason opener on August 8 vs. Carolina, all eyes turn to live game reps. If Shedeur gets meaningful snaps — and performs — this whole thing could get real fast.
He might’ve been drafted in the fifth round, but let’s be honest: that wasn’t a fifth-round talent.
The NFL is about opportunity. And Shedeur Sanders? He’s grabbing his.
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