Colorado Professional Athletes

Travis Hunter Is Already a Problem for NFL Offenses

Eleven games into his NFL career, Travis Hunter is making the Heisman hype look understated.

The Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback played all 76 defensive snaps against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4 — the first time he'd done so as a pro — helping Jacksonville claim a 22-17 win to move to 3-1 on the season. It wasn't just the workload that turned heads. According to Sports Illustrated, the Jaguars' brass is already treating Hunter as one of the league's elite corners, a remarkable designation for a player barely three months into his professional career.

The snap count itself sent a message. Hunter's lack of offensive snaps against Cincinnati drew some attention, but the Jaguars' coaching staff offered a straightforward explanation: the defensive side of the ball is where Hunter is earning his keep right now, and Jacksonville isn't going to mess with what's working. Per Heavy Sports, the Jaguars' recent flurry of secondary roster moves — adding depth behind Hunter — suggests the organization is building around him as a cornerstone at corner, with the two-way role still a longer-term conversation.

Jacksonville is rolling, and the former Colorado two-way star is a big reason why.

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Shedeur Sanders and the Trade Rumor That Won't Die

While Hunter is cementing his future in Jacksonville, fellow Buff Shedeur Sanders is navigating a murkier situation in Cleveland.

The Browns sit at 3-1, but the quarterback conversation in Cleveland is anything but settled. Deshaun Watson has held onto the starting job and is quietly silencing doubters, which has paradoxically made Sanders — a rookie — the subject of a swirling trade market. Multiple outlets reported this week that the Browns have fielded inquiries, with the Jets surfacing as a potential destination.

Browns insiders pushed back hard. One Cleveland reporter flatly called the trade talk overblown, and a separate SI piece laid out four concrete reasons why dealing Sanders this early would be a mistake. The organizational line, per Heavy Sports, is that Cleveland has a long-term plan for Sanders at quarterback — Watson's current role notwithstanding.

Sanders himself addressed the noise publicly, telling Cosmopolitan he's been misunderstood nationally and questioning why his public perception has taken on a life of its own. "Why would people think this?" he said, per CBS Sports. A sideline video that circulated during the week briefly stoked drama, but the Browns' staff pushed back on that framing too, calling it misleading without full context.

The subplot took an almost surreal turn when Shilo Sanders — Colorado's other first-round product, now with the Buccaneers — was filmed taking Shedeur house-hunting in Fort Lauderdale. Whether that's a sign of anything or just brothers being brothers, Browns fans probably didn't love the optics.

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Around the Buffs

Rams linebacker Nate Landman was handed a first-strike suspension by the NFL ahead of Los Angeles's Week 4 game against the Saints, tied to an incident involving a teammate. The punishment marks the first formal discipline of Landman's career.

Chiefs rookie offensive tackle Kahlil Benson had a week that went beyond football — the former Buff shared personal life-changing news during Kansas City's bye week, adding a celebratory note to what's already been an impressive early NFL stretch for the lineman out of Boulder.

Colorado's NFL alumni had a week to talk about — a milestone moment on defense, a surprise award winner in Kansas City, and a high-profile backup whose situation just keeps getting louder.

Travis Hunter Silences the Doubters One Play at a Time

The Jacksonville Jaguars' second overall pick from the 2025 draft is doing what most said was impossible to sustain at the NFL level. Travis Hunter grabbed his first career NFL interception in Week 4 against the New England Patriots — a moment significant enough that the Jaguars moved to secure the ball itself after a viral video surfaced following the game.

The milestone capped a strong stretch for the two-way standout. After logging only 31 defensive snaps in Week 2, Hunter's defensive usage climbed sharply in Week 3, a trend the Jaguars coaching staff appears to be leaning into. Head coach Liam Coen addressed the usage debate plainly: "He cares about winning." That's apparently enough of a philosophy to keep Hunter active on both sides of the ball.

The buzz around Hunter intensified further as Jacksonville prepared for a Week 4 tilt against the Cincinnati Bengals — and a date with Ja'Marr Chase. The heavyweight CB-vs.-WR matchup drew national attention before kickoff, though Chase himself seemed less than impressed when asked about Hunter's development, offering a response that made the rounds on social media. On the field, Hunter's first interception put the trash talk to rest.

Kahlil Benson Earns NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month

Nobody had Kahlil Benson circled as a storyline entering the 2026 season. When Chiefs starting left tackle Josh Simmons went down with a back injury during training camp, the assumption was that veteran Jaylon Moore would step in. Instead, Benson — the Colorado product and rookie — seized the job and didn't let go.

The NFL recognized his September with the AFC Offensive Rookie of the Month award, shared with Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III. For a player written off as a question mark before the season began, it's a remarkable validation. Kansas City's offensive line has held up, and Benson has been a central reason why.

Shedeur Sanders' Cleveland Limbo Gets Louder

The Browns are 3-1. Deshaun Watson has led three straight game-winning drives. And Shedeur Sanders is watching from the sideline — which has become the most talked-about subplot in Cleveland.

Trade rumors have moved from whisper to full volume. Multiple reports this week indicated that the Browns would "welcome a deal at the right price" for Sanders or fellow backup Dillon Gabriel, with ESPN listing Sanders among the league's notable QB trade possibilities. The Sporting News argued the Browns should do Sanders a favor and move him. Sports Illustrated suggested Cleveland needs to cut ties before the trade deadline.

Cleveland has publicly pushed back, insisting no quarterback is available. But with Watson entrenched as QB1 after a strong start and the Browns carrying four quarterbacks on their roster, the math is getting uncomfortable for the former Colorado star. A sideline video of Sanders during the Browns' win over the Steelers drew significant attention online, adding more fuel to speculation about his future.

His number is retired in Boulder. His NFL path, for now, remains on hold.

Shedeur Sanders: Community MVP, Without a Snap

Shedeur Sanders hasn't taken a regular-season snap for the Cleveland Browns in 2026. That hasn't stopped him from making news.

The NFLPA named Sanders its Week 3 Community MVP — a recognition that underscores his off-field presence in Cleveland even as Deshaun Watson holds the starting job. The award is a genuine bright spot for the former Colorado quarterback in a situation that's grown complicated quickly: per The Sporting News, Sanders may not see the field even after Week 4, and a former Browns star has publicly backed keeping him on the bench behind Watson.

Sanders, for his part, released a video ahead of the Week 3 matchup against Carolina — a move that suggests he's staying engaged and visible, even if the game-day roster isn't cooperating yet. Cleveland beat Tampa Bay in Week 2 to reach .500, so the urgency to pull Watson isn't there. The Browns can afford to be patient. Whether Sanders can is a different question.

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Travis Hunter: The Two-Way Dream, on Hold

The most confounding Colorado storyline of the week isn't in Cleveland — it's in Jacksonville.

Travis Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft and the man who won a Heisman Trophy playing both ways for the Buffaloes, is being used almost exclusively on defense through the first two games of his second NFL season. The Jaguars lost to Denver 20-13 in Week 2, and Hunter's offensive usage barely registered.

That's puzzling Deion Sanders — the man who recruited, coached, and deployed Hunter as a true two-way weapon at Colorado. "I have no idea what's going on," Coach Prime said this week, adding that he still hasn't received clarity from Jacksonville's staff on how they're managing his former star. Deion had noted back in May that the Jaguars hadn't even reached out to him about how to use Hunter, a detail that hasn't aged well.

Jaguars head coach Liam Coen did spend the offseason selling a two-way vision for Hunter. Reality has been more conservative. Coen acknowledged the snap-count debate this week and hinted at change — CBS Sports reported Jacksonville is now "looking to get Hunter more involved on offense" heading into Week 3 against New England. The Sporting News, meanwhile, noted the organization considers itself "very patient" with Hunter's two-way development, framing the slow rollout as intentional rather than a retreat from the plan.

Hunter himself shut down the controversy publicly before the Patriots game, refusing to provide bulletin board material and deferring to the coaching staff. He's also part of a cornerback rotation Coen has described as drive-by-drive, alongside Buster and Jarrion — further evidence that his defensive role is being managed carefully, not maximized.

The Week 3 matchup with New England, where former Buff Christian Gonzalez lines up at corner for the Patriots, offers a natural stage for Hunter to break out on offense. Whether Coen delivers on his tease remains to be seen.

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Around the League

Elsewhere in the Buffs diaspora, undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson continued to start at left tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs with Josh Simmons still sidelined by a back injury — a remarkable opportunity for a player who wasn't drafted. Andy Reid offered a public warning to Benson after his strong start, suggesting the rookie shouldn't get comfortable just yet.

Jimmy Horn Jr., on the Browns' practice squad, got a moment in the spotlight when head coach Todd Monken was caught joking around with him during the team's Week 2 celebrations. Brady Russell chipped in six rushing yards for Seattle in their 31-7 win over Arizona, and LaJohntay Wester caught one pass for 14 yards in Baltimore's 24-17 loss to New Orleans.

The Sanders Circus Comes to Cleveland — and It Brought Friends

Four Colorado alumni are making noise across the NFL this week, and the thread connecting most of them runs straight through Cleveland.

The QB controversy that won't quit

Shedeur Sanders hasn't taken a regular-season snap for the Browns yet, but he's already the most talked-about player on the roster. After Deshaun Watson was throttled 34-10 by the Jaguars in Week 1 — a game that also featured fellow Buff Travis Hunter catching one pass for 8 yards on the other sideline — the Browns' quarterback room is suddenly a very loud conversation.

Reports surfaced that Cleveland was weighing a QB switch ahead of their Week 2 matchup against Tampa Bay, with ESPN's Seth Walder predicting a change was coming. Browns players have reportedly expressed interest in seeing what Sanders can do, though the team ultimately stuck with Watson heading into the game. The uncomfortable wrinkle: Watson's contract situation makes a clean switch complicated regardless of performance on the field.

Former Brown and Colorado alum Jarvis Landry weighed in publicly, backing Sanders — though reports framed his comments with nuance, stopping short of an outright call to start the rookie. Travis Hunter, Sanders' former Colorado teammate now with Jacksonville, was more direct in his public support, pushing for Sanders to get his shot.

Horn's wild week: cut, claimed, reunited

No Colorado alum had a more eventful seven days than Jimmy Horn Jr. The second-year wideout muffed a punt in Carolina's blowout loss to Chicago in Week 1 — a 59-37 drubbing — and was released by the Panthers the following day to make roster room for linebacker Tyrel Dodson. Carolina's brass expressed hope Horn would clear waivers and return to the practice squad.

He did not clear waivers. The Browns claimed him, reuniting Horn with Sanders — his college quarterback at Colorado for two seasons. CBS Sports confirmed the signing, and the move had a behind-the-scenes assist: Deion Sanders, Colorado's head coach and Shedeur's father, said he "made some calls" on Horn's behalf to help his former player land on his feet. The Panthers, now without Horn, quickly moved to sign a replacement receiver of their own.

The reunion gives Sanders a familiar target if — and when — he gets his opportunity under center in Cleveland.

Landman draws a fine

Out in Los Angeles, Nate Landman had a quieter but still notable week. The Rams linebacker was hit with an NFL-issued fine, part of a group of punishments handed down to Landman, a Rams teammate, and two 49ers players. Details on the specific infraction were not disclosed in league communications, but the punishment was confirmed. Landman also appeared limited on the Rams' first Week 2 injury report, alongside several other Los Angeles defenders.

The bigger picture

It's early in the 2026 season, but Colorado's footprint across the NFL is impossible to ignore. The Sanders-Horn reunion in Cleveland is the kind of story that transcends the transaction wire — a muffed punt, a phone call from Coach Prime, and a college connection landing two Buffs on the same NFL roster within days. Whether it translates into wins for Cleveland is another question entirely. With a 21.5% win probability against Tampa Bay in Week 2, per iPredicta, the Browns have bigger problems than their depth chart. But the Colorado alumni network, at least, is thriving.