Browns Officially Name Sanders Week 12 Starter
The Cleveland Browns may have turned the page to a new era last week when former Colorado Buffaloes star quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, received his first NFL action on Sunday against the Ravens. Now, the rookie passer is in line to make his first career start this weekend against the Las Vegas Raiders. On Wednesday, it was confirmed that Sanders is set to start against Las Vegas.
Deion Sanders Balances Fatherhood and Coaching
During his Tuesday press conference, Colorado coach Deion Sanders took a moment to reflect on what the potential opportunity means for his son.
With Colorado preparing for its own pivotal matchup against No. 25 Arizona State, Deion balanced both worlds: the pride of a father watching a dream unfold and the focus of a head coach managing one of college football’s youngest teams.
“I Was Happy for Him”: Deion Goes Full Dad Mode
During Tuesday’s press conference, Deion revealed to the media that he had told Shedeur before last week’s game that the opportunity to play against Baltimore was coming. When asked how it felt to see his son walk onto an NFL field for the first time, “Coach Prime” went into full Dad mode.
“I was happy for him just getting that opportunity,” Sanders said. “Because I know the fight behind the fight. I know what’s been transpiring behind the curtains.”
A Rollercoaster Transition From College to the NFL
The transition from a collegiate superstar to an NFL rookie is never smooth, but for Shedeur, since leaving Colorado and entering the 2025 NFL Draft, it’s been a true rollercoaster. Once projected as a potential top-10 pick, Sanders faced an unprecedented draft-day tumble to the fifth round (144th overall). The draft slide, combined with reports questioning his interview style and approach, shrouded his arrival in Cleveland in adversity.
But Deion has clearly prepared his son for this moment and expanded on how proud he is of how Shedeur has carried himself since leaving Boulder.
“I’m just proud of him, because he’s not just saying the right things, he’s doing and living the right things — that’s just who he is,” Sanders said. “They keep trying to make him out to be somebody else, but he is who he is. He’s a Sanders.”
Will Deion Attend the Game?
While Cleveland has officially named Shedeur as their starter for week 12 against the Raiders, Deion said he hasn’t yet decided whether he’ll travel to Las Vegas to watch the game or not.
“I don’t know, I haven’t made that decision as of yet,” Sanders said. “I’m so focused on what we have at hand, I’m not thinking about that. Although I just got off the phone with him a minute ago, I’m really focused on what we have at hand.”
It’s a balance the Buffs coach has had to manage since both sons entered the NFL — keeping family close while keeping the Colorado football program top priority.
“He’s Been Built for This”: Deion on Shedeur’s Mental Toughness
Regardless of whether he’s in the stands or not, Prime made clear that Shedeur’s moment has been earned, not gifted.
“I think a lesser man would have crumbled, but he’s been built for this,” Sanders said. “I don’t think there’s too many quarterbacks built like that for adverse situations and not having the best of things to happen around him, we’ve never had the best of anything, when it came to playing on the field, we never had the best of this, the best of that, but we made the most of this and the most of that.”
Colorado Prepares for Key Home Matchup
While Deion’s comments about Shedeur draw national attention, Colorado’s own weekend spotlight is also quickly approaching. The Buffs return to Folsom Field on Saturday to face No. 25 Arizona State, with freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis making the first home start of his college career.
Lewis showed poise in his debut start two weeks ago against West Virginia, flashing the arm talent and command that made him one of the most sought-after recruits in the country a season ago. Saturday’s matchup gives him the chance to build on the early momentum — and potentially spark a late-season surge for a young Buffaloes roster still forming its identity.
Two New Eras Beginning — One in Cleveland, One in Boulder
Before Shedeur steps into the biggest moment of his NFL journey so far, Lewis will take his first steps into the next stage of his Colorado development. For CU fans, it’s a reminder that two parallel paths — one in Cleveland, and one in Boulder — are both just beginning to unfold.
