Shedeur Sanders’ rookie NFL season hasn’t gone the way he envisioned it would. The change of script began with his shocking draft slide. And then he ended up as back-up to the likes of Joe Flacco and Dillion Gabriel. Things couldn’t have gone any worse for the Colorado product.
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But it’s commendable how Sanders has managed to keep his composure and humor intact despite all the setbacks. That positive mindset was evident on Sunday before the Browns’ dominant 31-6 win over the Miami Dolphins.
The rookie QB was smiling and joking on the sidelines at Huntington Bank Field when he spotted a familiar face on the sidelines: Colorado’s own Darius Sanders, the popular vlogger who documented much of Shedeur’s college journey under Coach Prime.
Without hesitation, the Browns star ran over, exchanged pleasantries, and cracked a grin. “You are a distraction, bro,” he told Darius, half-joking, half-serious, as the two laughed.
Then came the viral moment when Shedeur jogged back toward Darius with a mischievous smile. “You know how them dudes be hugging their girls before they go in?” Shedeur quipped. “You’ve got to be that for me.”
Darius quickly replied, “I got you,” laughing, while the exchange was caught on Well Off Media’s vlog.
The moment is a reminder of what made Shedeur such a magnetic figure in college. His personality is a perfect mix of confidence, humor, and calmness, even when the spotlight dims. No wonder he was so loved back in Boulder.
That said, it’s also worth noting that none of the Sanders family was in attendance for his first game as a QB2. Not his brothers, and not even Deion Sanders, who had a hilariously blunt reason for skipping his son’s appearances so far.
“He [Shedeur] was like, ‘When [are] you coming to the game? And I was like, when you play. I’m not gonna come out here and look at you sit. If you play, I’m coming,” Coach Prime recalled on a podcast with Derek and David Carr.
Well, as things stand, it seems likely that Coach Prime’s arrival at Huntington is a matter of weeks. Dillon Gabriel’s performances continue to draw criticism. Even in Sunday’s win over the Dolphins, where the third-round QB threw for just 116 yards on 13-of-18 passing, he failed to record a single touchdown.
The Browns’ defense and run game, led by Quinshon Judkins’ three rushing TDs, carried the load. Gabriel was visibly out of rhythm and was nearly intercepted multiple times.
Dillon Gabriel’s stats in his first NFL win pic.twitter.com/2oExw9GkE0
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 19, 2025
This is a league where the only currency of value is a win. So it’s fair to assume that Gabriel won’t see the bench next week. Even still, signs from the Browns camp regarding Shedeur’s QB1 prospects have been promising.
According to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot, Shedeur has been quietly impressing the coaching staff behind the scenes. He has been arriving early for quarterback sessions with Kevin Stefanski and earning praise from teammates like Myles Garrett for his preparation and poise.
“They’re confident he’ll be ready when his time comes,” Cabot reported earlier this month.
And while that moment hasn’t come yet, Sunday’s playful interaction between Shedeur and Darius showed one thing clearly: The young quarterback hasn’t lost his spark. He’s still the same kid who commands the camera, carries himself with self-belief, and keeps the energy light even in uncertain times.
