LAS VEGAS – Not even the bright lights of Vegas and the spotlight of the NFL could rattle Shedeur Sanders.
On Sunday, the former Colorado quarterback made his first NFL start and helped the Cleveland Browns to a 24-10 win against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
“I’m not gonna lie, I felt very relaxed, very relaxed,” the rookie said. “And half of that comes from preparing, studying and knowing I got God on my side. So throughout all that, I had no worries. I didn’t feel nervous or anything before the game because, like, he took off all my worries and everything away.”
Sanders, a fifth-round draft pick in April, became the first former CU quarterback to start a game in the NFL since Koy Detmer for the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 2, 2005. He also became the first Browns quarterback to win his first NFL start since Eric Zeier in 1995. Others in that time had been 0-17.
Sanders, however, displayed a lot of the cool and calm that he did during his two seasons at Colorado, when he set numerous records.
And, like old times, he had his father, CU head coach Deion Sanders, and his brother, Deion Jr., in the building to watch him play. Father and son embraced before Shedeur took the field for warmups ahead of the game.
“Being able to see my family, that was important, and happy they were here to be able to witness it,” said Shedeur, who completed 11-of-20 passes for 209 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
The first start took much longer than he ever anticipated, though.
While growing up in Texas and then starring at Colorado the past two years, Shedeur had visions of being a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft. Just a year ago, while he was at CU, many projected him as a top pick.
Shedeur’s slide in the draft has been well-documented, as he not only fell out of the first round, but all the way to Day 3. The Browns selected him 144th overall, and he wasn’t even the first quarterback they took. They selected Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel in the third round.
Throughout the summer, Shedeur was behind not only Gabriel but veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. Eventually, the Browns traded Flacco and Pickett, but Gabriel has been the starter in recent weeks. It wasn’t until Gabriel went out with a concussion last week that Shedeur got his shot.
“Everybody starts different places, and like I say, just because I didn’t get the summer reps, just because I wasn’t in the best situation for me to be prepared to go out there and execute like from a summer standpoint, that’s how life is,” Shedeur said. “Everybody’s not in the best situation, but there’s no excuse. You got to go out there and perform.”
Sanders is used to performing but also used to being the main guy at quarterback. The past seven months have created a different experience for him.
“I learned a lot mentally,” he said. “I feel like I’m able to understand more. I was always great at understanding perspectives and stuff, because you got to really take a deep dive on how we grew up.”
With a Pro Football Hall of Famer as a father, Shedeur grew up in a nice home and having all of his needs met. But, his father also put the boys in different experiences so they’d learn, including having them play football in lower-income areas so they could “get that dawg in us.”
Shedeur’s always had some dawg in him, which is why he set records in high school, at Jackson State for two seasons and at Colorado. There were plenty of times this season, however, that it appeared he may not get a shot with the Browns.
“Coming up here before y’all six, seven months ago, I couldn’t tell you I’d be here,” he said. “God’s the only way I’m able to even get through everything.
“It led me to a whole different understanding, and it led me in my own experience with God, with having faith, when nobody else can help you in your situation but God. So that’s why I’m truly thankful, and I’m truly happy. It’s the first time I never had stress. I did the work. I did everything I can in my power I was able to do. So the rest was left up to him.”
Shedeur made his NFL debut a week earlier, coming off the bench against the Baltimore Ravens. He struggled, going 4-for-16 for 47 yards and an interception in a 23-16 loss.
On Sunday, he wasn’t perfect, but he was efficient. A bomb to fellow rookie Isaiah Bond for a 52-yard gain set up a touchdown run. He completed a 39-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy. Then, he threw a swing pass to Dylan Sampson that went for a 66-yard touchdown and a 24-3 lead in the fourth quarter.
Whether the performance was enough to remain the starter isn’t known. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski wouldn’t commit to a starter for next week’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.
“I’m not going to get into that,” Stefanski said. “I’m proud of him, proud of this offense and there are a ton of things to learn from.”
For Shedeur, though, it was a day that was a long time coming and he relished the opportunity.
“I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it a lot,” he said. “A lot of people want to see me fail, and it ain’t gonna happen. It ain’t gonna happen.
“The fact that I got an opportunity, and I was able to show the organization, show everybody who I really am then that was truly exciting. I was off-balance for a little bit the past couple months in my life. But it was different. I’m thankful to be back where I am.”