Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders made an unexpected trip to Colorado over the weekend during the team’s bye week — a change from his earlier plans to stay in Cleveland and focus on recovery.
Sanders surprised his father, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, in a moment captured on video shared Saturday.
“Why are you here?” Deion asked with a grin.
“I know you need your son. I know you need some love and affection,” Shedeur replied.
The visit came amid a tough stretch for the Buffaloes, who have dropped back-to-back games by a combined score of 105-24. Shedeur’s appearance offered a brief lift in morale, though Colorado’s struggles continued with a 52-17 loss to Arizona.
Sanders starred for two seasons at Colorado, passing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns during his final season in Boulder.
It looked like just a quick stop in Colorado for Sanders. He posted on social media shortly after the video went viral that he was back in Cleveland.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Said He Was Remaining in Cleveland During Bye
Sanders has been active on live streams during the bye week and was asked if he planned to return to Colorado early in the week. He made it clear that he wouldn’t be heading back.
“I got treatment out here,” said Sanders, who missed Week 8 with a back injury. I gotta get ready. Big ready.”
The response sparked speculation that Sanders may have received a hint he’ll be seeing the field soon with Dillon Gabriel struggling. However, that doesn’t appear to be the case, as Gabriel is expected to remain the starter when the Browns return from their bye week to face the New York Jets. Cleveland wants to give Gabriel a few more opportunties to prove himself.
“Playing good on offense is about 11 guys on the field and us as coaches doing our job,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Obviously, young players will learn in each outing that they’re out there. I think Dillon will continue to learn and get better, but it’s really an entire offensive thing where we all need to be better.”
When asked directly about Sanders getting a chance to play, Stefanski said it’s not his current “focus.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Focused on Role
Sanders is a polarizing figure, with his every move under a microscope. But he’s looking to tune out any negative attention and is focused on fulfilling his role behind Gabriel.
“We’re not on no negativity from now on, man, we’re not doing that. I’m just here to be positive and I don’t speak on anything negative,” Sanders said shortly before being named the backup. “So that’s the new way. That’s what we’re going forward with. Anything negative, we’re not talking about it. we’re not speaking on it.”
While he feels ready to play, Sanders has said his focus is on being a supportive teammate to Gabriel.
“We’re going to make sure we do everything we can to make sure Dillon is ready for the game,” Sanders said last month. “Prepare the right way and be ready to know that you could get out there any point in time. So, I’m overly confident within myself. I know when I first got here, I’m ready to play, but it’s up to the coaches and whatever decision they make, then I’m fine with.”
Gabriel has thrown for 702 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions across his four starts, leading the Browns to a 1-3 record during that span. He’ll have an opportunity to bounce back when Cleveland faces the Jets — a team with one of the league’s most vulnerable defenses.
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