Shedeur Sanders‘ first appearance in an NFL uniform delivered an immediate statement as the Cleveland Browns rookie spurred his team to a 30-10 win over the Carolina Panthers, and the former NBA star, DeMarcus Cousins, didn’t hesitate to fire back at his critics.
Those who questioned whether Sanders could perform at the professional level may already have egg on their faces after the 23-year-old went 14-of-23 for 138 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers.
The performance came amid fears he doesn’t have what it takes to compete at the highest level of professional football and could even be cut from the Browns’ roster after slipping behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel in the depth chart.
Yet that doesn’t appear to be the vase as he looked comfortable on Friday, August 8 and Cousins wasted no time firing back at the haters as un a social media post, he wrote: “The Shedeur haters in shambles.”
The message gained further attention when Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s father and current Colorado Buffaloes head coach, shared it on his own account, signaling both pride and vindication.
For Shedeur, the performance offered an early answer to those puzzled by his fall in the 2025 NFL Draft as he dropped from expected first rounder down to the fifth and 144th overall.
While his debut came in a preseason setting, the sharp decision-making and composure he displayed hinted at the potential to exceed expectations and could force the team’s head coach, Kevin Stefanski to the drawing board to review his options.
Sanders ready to go for Colorado Buffaloes season
The public display of support from Deion, dubbed Coach Prime, was not just isolated to Shedeur either as it was a subtle nod to his own legacy with the Colorado Buffaloes in the NCAA.
Known for his relentless demand when it comes to effort and commitment, Sanders revealed he is fully recovered after undergoing surgery in May to remove a cancerous tumor from his bladder and is ready to tackle college football.
“I’m healthy, I’m vibrant, and I’m my old self,” Sanders said. “I’m loving life right now and doing everything I can to make the most of it.
“The next phase is we’re going to win differently, but we’re going to win. We want to be physical, and we’re going to run the football hard.”
Colorado’s first test comes on August 29 against Georgia Tech. For Deion, the upcoming season is about proving that the program can thrive without the talents of his NFL-destined son.
Deion has reinforced the roster with quarterbacks Kaidon Salter and Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis to share snaps, and he has also added the Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, Marshall Faulk, to coach the team’s ground game.
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