Colorado Professional Athletes

The biggest story in the Colorado NFL universe this week has nothing to do with a touchdown or a highlight-reel play — it's about a roster decision that could reshape Shedeur Sanders' career trajectory before it ever really gets started.

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken named Deshaun Watson the team's Week 1 starter, ending what had been billed as the NFL's most contentious quarterback battle of the summer. Sanders, the high-profile second-year signal-caller out of Colorado, entered training camp with a legitimate shot at the job. He didn't get it.

Monken explained his reasoning publicly, pointing to Watson's experience and what he described as the veteran's best chance to succeed in the final year of his contract. But the decision immediately drew scrutiny — former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III suggested the call may not have been Monken's to make unilaterally, citing the contractual realities that made Watson effectively unmovable regardless of how camp played out. Watson carries a reported "poison pill" in his deal that made outright release a financial non-starter for Cleveland.

Sanders' New Reality — and Its Complications

Sanders initially settled into the backup role, but his footing there has since grown less certain. Dillon Gabriel, one of Cleveland's younger developmental quarterbacks, turned enough heads in camp to shake up the depth chart behind Watson. Monken confirmed Sanders would not play in the team's preseason finale, with Gabriel and Taylen Green getting extended reps instead — a notable omission for a player who was supposed to be QB2.

The ripple effects were immediate. NFL coaches and front-office personnel, speaking to CBS Sports, raised pointed questions about Sanders' long-term future in Cleveland and whether he has a viable path to a starting role anywhere in the league. Some sources indicated certain teams would decline to trade for him even if he became available.

That "if" is now looking more like "when" in some circles. A Browns analyst floated the possibility of a trade, and a wave of landing-spot speculation followed — with the Packers, Lions, and Dolphins among the teams mentioned as potential fits. Green Bay is notable in that context: fellow Colorado alum Brenden Rice is currently on the Packers' roster, though as a wide receiver — not exactly a factor in any quarterback equation.

The Bigger Picture

The Browns' internal stance, per Bleacher Report, is that they still think highly of Sanders despite the QB1 snub — cold comfort for a player drafted to be a franchise centerpiece. FanSided noted that Watson's Week 1 designation doesn't permanently close the door for Sanders in Cleveland; Watson is in the final year of his deal and has missed significant time due to injury in recent seasons. If Watson stumbles early, Sanders could find himself back in the conversation quickly.

Father Deion Sanders, characteristically, responded to the QB1 decision with a motivational quote about "yesterday" — keeping the family brand's focus forward even as the football questions pile up.

For now, Shedeur Sanders sits in a purgatory familiar to highly drafted quarterbacks who weren't handed the keys immediately: too prominent to quietly develop, too unsettled to feel secure. How Cleveland resolves that tension — trade, depth chart movement, or a Watson stumble — will be the Colorado story to watch as the regular season approaches.

Shedeur Sanders and the Browns' QB Circus

The most-watched quarterback battle of the 2026 preseason has a Colorado Buff at the center of it — and it's messy.

Shedeur Sanders made his first preseason start for the Cleveland Browns against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, a game that was delayed by lightning before it ever really got going. When it did, the Browns fell 31-7 in an ugly showing: Sanders and veteran Deshaun Watson combined for just 109 passing yards and two interceptions, with Bills safety Damar Hamlin intercepting Sanders and flexing the watch celebration at him on the field. The trolling was noted nationally.

Coach Todd Monken offered no clarity after the loss, declining to name a starter or provide a timeline — though reports surfaced that Cleveland planned to make its QB1 decision within days of Sanders' start. That decision carries franchise weight. The Browns hold two first-round picks tied to the outcome, and a Sporting News report noted the organization could face a franchise-altering call on Sanders as early as after the 2026 season. A separate report flagged that at least one Bills defender openly mocked the Browns' offense during joint practices, calling it "checkdown city."

The noise around Sanders isn't limited to the field. A trade rumor briefly surfaced, only to be tamped down. A former NFL quarterback publicly accused the Browns of setting Sanders up to fail. The Wall Street Journal described the competition between Sanders and Watson as the league's "rock-bottom quarterback competition." Sanders, for his part, said publicly he doesn't feel pressure — a composed answer that's become something of a trademark.

The Browns' GM addressed Watson's massive contract and its potential influence on the decision, though he insisted it wouldn't be the determining factor. Whatever Monken decides, the spotlight on the former Colorado signal-caller isn't dimming anytime soon.

Travis Hunter: Two Ways Isn't Enough Anymore

While Sanders navigates the chaos in Cleveland, Travis Hunter is doing something that no one in the modern NFL has done quite like him — and apparently, he's still looking to add to his résumé.

The Jacksonville Jaguars' two-way star used virtual reality technology heavily during his offseason preparation, leaning on what he described as "top-of-the-line software" in the team's virtual meeting rooms to get up to speed on both wide receiver and cornerback assignments simultaneously. Head coach Liam Coen confirmed Hunter's spot on the Jaguars' WR depth chart this week, locking in his offensive role heading into the regular season.

But Hunter apparently wasn't satisfied with just two positions. During a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers, he took reps as a field goal kicker — drawing attention and at least a few raised eyebrows.

The two-way experiment in Jacksonville remains one of the most compelling storylines in the NFL entering 2026, and Hunter is clearly leaning into it with full organizational support.

Also Worth Noting

LaJohntay Wester, the former Buff now with the Baltimore Ravens, caught a touchdown pass from undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano in Baltimore's 13-3 preseason win over Minnesota — a small moment, but a roster-bubble play that matters for a receiver fighting for a spot.

Colorado's NFL footprint has rarely looked this large. Two of its biggest names are generating headlines for wildly different reasons — one trying to prove he belongs under center, the other redefining what "playing football" even means.

The most-watched quarterback battle of the 2026 NFL preseason has a Colorado Buffaloes alum at the center of it — and after one game, nobody in Cleveland has any answers.

Shedeur Sanders made his preseason debut for the Browns on Saturday against the Chicago Bears, and it didn't go as scripted. The former Colorado signal-caller threw an interception on his third and final drive of the evening, a fourth-quarter miscue that Sanders later acknowledged was a case of correct read, wrong execution. Cleveland lost 34–10, and the Browns' QB room left the opener with more questions than it entered with.

Deshaun Watson, who drew the start, had the better of the afternoon on paper — leading two early scoring drives before a strip sack derailed his day. Head coach Todd Monken praised Watson's performance afterward but pointedly declined to name a Week 1 starter, signaling the competition remains live heading into preseason Week 2.

Sanders, for his part, didn't hide from the moment. He apologized to reporters earlier in the week for the manner in which he had fielded a question about his competition with Watson — an unforced distraction that drew outside attention at an already scrutinized camp. That kind of off-field noise, per reporting, could factor into how the Browns weigh their decision, making Sanders' composure as much a variable as his stat line.

The situation has generated enough buzz that trade speculation has already surfaced — one scenario floats Sanders landing with a Super Bowl contender if Cleveland ultimately commits to Watson — though the Browns have given no indication they're moving on from either quarterback yet.

Horn Jr. Fighting for a Roster Spot in Carolina

Shedeur isn't the only Colorado alum with something to prove this August. Wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. is facing a legitimate roster battle with the Panthers heading into the final weeks of training camp. The speedy second-year receiver needs consistent preseason production to secure his spot on Carolina's 53-man roster, with the Panthers carrying several receivers competing for limited depth chart real estate.

The Broader Colorado Footprint

Beyond Sanders and Horn Jr., the Buffs have alumni scattered across the league — from Travis Hunter with the Jaguars to Shilo Sanders with the Buccaneers and LaJohntay Wester catching passes in Baltimore. But none carry the marquee weight of the Browns' QB situation right now.

One of Sanders' former Colorado teammates, per reports, has been publicly praying for the quarterback amid the mounting pressure of the battle — a small reminder that the Buffs' NFL pipeline is watching closely as one of their own faces his biggest professional test yet.

The Browns' next preseason game will offer Sanders another chance to make his case. Monken has since revealed his plan for Sanders' usage in Week 2, though the decision on a starter remains unresolved. For Colorado fans, there's no bigger game on the preseason schedule than whoever Cleveland plays next.

Two former Buffaloes are commanding attention at opposite ends of the NFL spectrum this preseason week — one fighting for the most scrutinized starting job in the league, the other pushing to rewrite what a position even means.

Shedeur Sanders: Cleveland's Most Complicated Quarterback Story

The Browns' QB battle is the most-watched camp subplot in the NFL, and Shedeur Sanders is right at the center of it — for better and worse.

Head coach Todd Monken has laid out a methodical preseason plan: Sanders and incumbent Deshaun Watson will each start one preseason game before a third contest determines the direction of Cleveland's season. The structure signals genuine competition, but the week delivered mixed signals on Sanders' standing. Watson took first-team reps over Sanders in at least one practice session, despite the team's stated intent to run an open competition.

The noise around Sanders wasn't limited to the field. An anonymous NFL executive was blunt, telling reporters there is a "huge gap between him and competent QB play" — a brutal assessment that Sanders chose not to dignify publicly. When pressed about critics and media scrutiny, the second-year quarterback said he refuses to engage with outlets he doesn't respect, a response that was equal parts defiant and disciplined.

Monken, for his part, offered a more nuanced read. He praised Sanders as "such a playmaker" but identified one clear developmental edge: getting rid of the ball sooner when no viable option is available. The instinct to create can work against him when the pocket collapses.

Still, there were genuine bright spots. During a two-minute drill in Monday's padded practice, Sanders dropped a long-range touchdown strike on wide receiver KC Concepcion — the kind of sharp, accurate throw that reminds observers why Cleveland took him in the first place.

And Sanders himself signaled a matured mindset heading into Year 2, saying his biggest growth has been his ability to filter out negativity and focus on the process.

GM Andrew Berry acknowledged that both Watson and Sanders have "a long way to go" before a decision is made, keeping the outcome legitimately open. The preseason opener against the Bears looms as the first real data point.

Travis Hunter: Jacksonville's Two-Way Gamble

Across the league in Jacksonville, Travis Hunter is making clear he has no interest in a limited role. The Jaguars' first-round pick has been vocal about wanting to play both ways in 2026 — as a wide receiver and as a cornerback — a workload that would be virtually unprecedented at the NFL level.

Hunter's message to the organization and the league was simple and direct: he doesn't want to come off the field. Whether the Jaguars ultimately accommodate that vision is a separate question, but the boldness of the ask reflects the confidence Hunter carried out of Colorado into his professional career.

The logistical and physical demands of a full two-way role in the NFL are enormous, and Jacksonville's coaching staff has not yet publicly committed to that deployment. But Hunter's insistence keeps the conversation alive — and makes every preseason snap he plays worth watching for which side of the ball he lines up on.

Elsewhere in the Buffs Alumni Network

One quieter note from the week: cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, listed on the active roster with the Commanders, has been placed on the reserve/retired list, ending his NFL career. Witherspoon spent several seasons as a starter-caliber corner in the league and departs with a respectable professional resume.

The rest of Colorado's sizable NFL alumni contingent — including Shilo Sanders (Buccaneers), Jimmy Horn Jr. (Panthers), and LaJohntay Wester (Ravens) — were not among the week's notable headlines, but the Buffaloes have rarely had two players generating this level of national attention simultaneously. Sanders and Hunter are carrying that flag loudly.