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Shedeur Sanders Posted Grateful Three-Word Message After Strong Preseason Start

Sanders tossed two touchdown passes in the first half of his first preseason game.
Shedeur Sanders threw two touchdown passes in his preseason debut with the Browns
Shedeur Sanders threw two touchdown passes in his preseason debut with the Browns | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

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Shedeur Sanders's NFL career got out to a hot start. Sure, it's just his first preseason game, but he still turned heads as he started the game for the Browns and played well into the third quarter.

On the night, he threw for 138 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, connecting on 14 of his 23 passing attempts. He rushed for 19 yards on four carries, too. An impressive showing for the rookie quarterback who fell to the fifth round after a dramatic slide in April's NFL draft, even if he didn't exactly share the same sentiment.

He acknowledged he "did some good, some bad" in Cleveland's 30-10 preseason win over the Panthers and even apologized to his father, Deion, after the performance. Although Sanders seemed to pick apart his own performance, he posted a grateful message to his X account following the game.

"Thank you GOD," he wrote.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski wouldn't comment on how the performance would impact his team's depth chart at QB. He did say that Sanders will see "a ton of reps" next week as well, though. He's part of a crowded QB room that also includes Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel. While Sanders isn't expected to start and is currently listed as a third-string QB under Gabriel on Cleveland's depth chart, the impressive outing and a continued strong preseason could improve his standing among the group.

After the exciting first game, the No. 144 pick in this year's draft is certainly thankful for the moment.


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Blake Silverman
BLAKE SILVERMAN

Blake Silverman is a writer at Sports Illustrated, primarily covering the NBA and WNBA. Before joining SI in November 2024 as a breaking/trending news writer, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation and A10Talk. He’s an alum of both Michigan State and St. Bonaventure University, receiving a master’s degree from the Bonnies’ sports journalism program. Outside of work, he’s a husband, father, yogi and fairly mediocre tennis player who’s open to any tips on how to play defense in EA Sports College Football.