Shedeur Sanders dazzles in debut, gets love from LeBron James and others

Former CU Buffs star QB Shedeur Sanders had an excellent NFL (preseason) debut on Friday night in Carolina.

Sanders, making the start for the Cleveland Browns, finished the first half against the Panthers 11-18 for 103 yards and two touchdowns. He also added four rushes for 19 yards.

The fifth-round pick, which was a shocker, then came out in the third quarter.

Not a lot happened on the first two drives of the second half, but Sanders led a touchdown drive on the third. It was capped off with a jet-sweep by WR Gage Larvadain for a score, ending the QB’s night on a good note. Overall, Sanders finished 14-23 for 138 yards and the two TDs.

It was a bit of a slow first quarter for Sanders, although he was hurt by a drop on a key third-down. In the second quarter he started cooking.

Shedeur Sanders found Kaden Davis for two separate TD passes. The first was a beautiful ball in the back corner of the end zone.

The second was an absolute dart, showing the arm strength we saw time and time again during his tenure in Boulder.

Shedeur Sanders finds Kaden Davis for the TD!

CLEvsCAR on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/uH5pxPho5h

— NFL (@NFL) August 8, 2025

Shedeur Sanders to Kaden Davis AGAIN for the TD!

CLEvsCAR on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/9ucfAJiMNY

— NFL (@NFL) August 9, 2025

After the second touchdown pass from Sanders, both NBA icon LeBron James and Coach Prime, Shedeur’s father, chimed in to share their thoughts.

That young 🤴🏾 looking good out there! @ShedeurSanders Keep going UP!!! HEAD down on the grind and HEAD high to the most high 🙌🏾🫡

— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 9, 2025

Oh yeah what now! #CoachPrime

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) August 9, 2025

The viral entrance to the game from Sanders was the talk of social media, but he backed it up on the field. He’s in a crowded QB room in Cleveland, featuring the likes of Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and others, but he clearly gave the Browns coaching staff a lot to think about.

His slide in the NFL Draft was unprecedented and tough to watch, but Shedeur Sanders showed on Friday night he can be a future starting NFL QB.

And maybe, just maybe, it could be as soon as this season.

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