Training camp is officially underway today in Berea, Ohio — and we're keeping our eyes glued to Cleveland for a while.
Shedeur Sanders reported to his first NFL camp with the Cleveland Browns on Friday. He enters a crowded and unpredictable quarterback room headlined by Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.
It’s a battle, no doubt. But before any football was played, Shedeur made sure to remind folks why he's more than just a name on a depth chart.
Earlier this week, Sanders helped organize the Garden Valley Fun Fest — a community event in East Cleveland which supported victims of a deadly apartment fire in June. Over 40 residents were displaced by the explosion, and one man lost his life.
Sanders showed up, handing out food, talking with families, and even playing football with local kids.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders is out at the Garden Valley Fun Fest, an event organized to unite the community after an explosion and fire at Rainbow Terrace Apartments last month displaced over 40 residents. There’s food trucks, free hair cuts and more activities at the event pic.twitter.com/7V1VGweVuc
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) July 16, 2025
“I just wanted a day for everybody to get out here and have some type of enjoyment,” Sanders told local reporters. “Bring that family atmosphere back.”
It’s a strong look — and a timely one.
Let’s be real: Sanders’ NFL journey hasn’t been without bumps already. He picked up two speeding ticketsin an 11-day span this summer, one of them reportedly for driving 101 mph in a 60 zone. The headlines weren’t great, and the court documents only made things worse when it came out he missed a hearing for one of them.
To his credit, Sanders didn’t hide from it. “I’ve made some wrong choices. I can own up to it,” he said during a recent charity softball game. “I learn from them.”
That kind of accountability, paired with legitimate community engagement, is exactly the kind of narrative shift you want to see heading into training camp — especially for a fifth-round pick looking to prove himself.
And make no mistake: there’s real opportunity on the table.
Cleveland’s quarterback situation is the most bizarre storylines in the NFL this year. Deshaun Watson is still sidelined. Flacco is 40. Pickett has yet to prove himself. Gabriel was drafted two rounds earlier, sure, but if Shedeur outperforms him in August, that depth chart could flip quickly.
Plenty of analysts, including ESPN’s Harry Douglas, believe Sanders could take over as early as midseason — if he delivers in the preseason.
“You don’t want to have a guy show he’s the guy and not play him,” Douglas said on SportsCenter. “That creates real tension in the locker room.”
🔥 Shedeur Browns QB1. Training Camp Starts Today
"All eyes are going to be on Shedeur Sanders. What you don't want, is have a guy show that he is the guy, but you not play him"
📽️ @espn https://t.co/JAwKsaSMDl pic.twitter.com/aoEyXWxHtg
— JaKi 🇺🇸 (@JaKiTruth) July 18, 2025
That moment is still a long way off. Right now, Shedeur just needs to stack good days — both on the field and off. Cleveland's first full-squad practice is set for Wednesday, and preseason games against Carolina, Philly, and the Rams will give fans their first look at how he stacks up against NFL defenses.
Buffs fans already know what he can do. Two record-setting seasons in Boulder didn’t happen by accident. He’s got poise, accuracy, and that same icy leadership that helped flip a 1-win team into national must-watch TV.
Now he’s in a new city, on a new team, with everything to prove.
If this past week is any indication, he’s off to a strong start.
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