Shedeur Sanders has completed the first preseason of his NFL career and now waits for Tuesday’s 53-man roster deadline.
The Cleveland Browns drafted Sanders, the youngest son of Deion Sanders, in the fifth round back in April, two rounds after taking another quarterback, Dillon Gabriel.
Both rookies are expected to make the team’s initial roster, along with starter Joe Flacco and projected veteran backup Kenny Pickett.
It has been an up-and-down preseason for Sanders, but the former University of Colorado star is keeping things positive ahead of cut down day.
On Sunday afternoon, Sanders posted on Instagram, thanking Browns fans for their support and vowing to keep improving.
“Thanks everyone for the 🧡 and support,” Sanders wrote. “There’s a lot to learn from this preseason, but I’m really thankful for the opportunity to be out there. Day by day, rep by rep, I’ll keep learning and getting better.”
Highs and lows in August for Sanders
Sanders’ first preseason was a mix of encouraging and worrisome signs as he acclimated himself to NFL life.
In his exhibition debut, Sanders was stellar, completing 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Carolina Panthers. However, an oblique injury kept him out of the Browns’ next game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
In Saturday’s preseason finale, Sanders completed 3-of-6 passes for 14 yards and was sacked five times in a 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
What’s next for Shedeur Sanders?
The Browns must finalize their initial 53-man roster by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Sanders is likely to be on it, telling reporters following Saturday’s game he “obviously” expects to make the team.
“I think, overall as a player, I’ve put in the work,” Sanders said, via ESPN. “I feel like everything I do, I try to do it to my best, and that’s all I can ask for.
“I feel like everybody feels like they should be on the team. If you ask anybody on the team, would they feel like they belong — they belong in their own eyes. I feel like I do, but I’m my own player. I think about myself in a high regard, of course. It’s not my decision.”
From there, we’ll have to see how Cleveland’s season unfolds to find out if and when the rookie passer will make his regular season debut.
