Daily News 19

Tag: Shedeur Sanders

  • Shedeur Sanders Connects Deep with Jimmy Horn Jr., Reviving Colorado Connection

    Shedeur Sanders Connects Deep with Jimmy Horn Jr., Reviving Colorado Connection

    Key Highlights

    • Former Colorado teammates Shedeur Sanders and Jimmy Horn Jr. reunited on the Cleveland Browns practice squad in September.
    • The Browns signed Horn to their practice squad on September 18, bringing the receiver back together with his college quarterback.
    • A deep completion during practice showcased the existing chemistry between Sanders and Horn from their Buffaloes tenure.

    Reunion at Browns Practice Facility

    Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. rekindled their on-field connection this week, offering a glimpse of the chemistry they developed during their shared tenure at the University of Colorado. During a practice session at the team’s Berea facility, Sanders dropped back and delivered a deep pass downfield, finding Horn Jr. waiting at the other end. The completion served as an immediate reminder of the rapport the pair built while wearing Buffaloes uniforms, now translated into the Browns’ orange and brown.

    Colorado Connection Fuels Familiarity

    Sanders and Horn Jr. arrived in Cleveland via different paths but share a significant chapter in Boulder. Both players suited up for the Colorado Buffaloes under head coach Deion Sanders, with Shedeur Sanders operating as the starting quarterback and Horn Jr. serving as a key target in the passing attack. Their time together in the Pac-12 and subsequently the Big 12 allowed them to develop timing and trust in live game situations. That shared history compresses the typical learning curve for a quarterback-receiver duo, a distinct advantage when practice reps are at a premium.

    Practice Squad Opportunity for Horn Jr.

    The reunion became official on September 18 when the Browns signed Horn Jr. to their practice squad. The move provided the receiver an opportunity to continue his professional development while reuniting with a quarterback who knows his route-running nuances and speed profile intimately. For Sanders, the addition of a familiar target adds a layer of comfort and predictability to the scout team and developmental periods. The signing underscores Cleveland’s strategy of fostering continuity where possible, even within the transient nature of practice squad transactions.

    Why This Matters

    The Sanders-Horn Jr. reunion highlights a broader NFL trend where teams value pre-existing chemistry to accelerate player integration, particularly on practice squads where development time is limited. For the Browns, who invested a high draft pick in Shedeur Sanders, surrounding him with familiar targets—even in a practice capacity—can stabilize his progression and improve the quality of simulated looks for the defense. Horn Jr.’s presence also provides the coaching staff with a known variable when evaluating Sanders’ decision-making and ball placement against live coverage. As the season progresses, practice squad elevations due to injuries or performance needs could thrust this duo into regular-season action, making their current rapport a potential strategic asset.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When did the Cleveland Browns sign Jimmy Horn Jr.?
    The Cleveland Browns signed Jimmy Horn Jr. to their practice squad on September 18.
    Where did Shedeur Sanders and Jimmy Horn Jr. play together before the NFL?
    Shedeur Sanders and Jimmy Horn Jr. were teammates at the University of Colorado, playing for the Colorado Buffaloes.
    What is the significance of their practice connection?
    Their existing chemistry from college accelerates on-field communication and trust, benefiting both Sanders’ development and the quality of practice reps for the Browns’ offense and defense.
  • Browns May Have Ideal QB Trade Partner After Injury Scare

    Browns May Have Ideal QB Trade Partner After Injury Scare

    Browns May Have Ideal QB Trade Partner After Falcons Injury Scare

    Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders will not be the starter for Week 1. GettyCLEVELAND, OHIO – AUGUST 27: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to a preseason game against the New England Patriots at Huntington Bank Field on August 27, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) GettyKevin Stefanski’s quarterback problems in Atlanta could give the Cleveland Browns a familiar trade partner before the season gets rolling.

    Falcons Face Quarterback Uncertainty Ahead of Steelers Matchup

    The Falcons were already preparing to open without Michael Penix Jr. when Tua Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury during Thursday’s practice. Cooper Rush took all the first-team reps, leaving Atlanta facing the possibility of another quarterback change ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

    Tagovailoa is considered day-to-day, so the Falcons do not yet know whether they have a temporary scare or a problem that requires outside help. Penix, meanwhile, has returned to full practices following knee surgery but is not ready for game action.

    “You can get cleared for 11-on-11 or you get cleared for a game, but then you have to be able to do your job,” Stefanski said Monday.

    If Atlanta decides to explore the trade market, Cleveland would be a logical place to call. Stefanski coached both Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel as rookies last season. He knows their strengths, their limitations and how they handle his offense — useful background when a team needs help quickly.

    Rush gives Atlanta an experienced fallback. But if the injuries linger, Stefanski’s old quarterback room could be worth a closer look for Atlanta.

    Shedeur Sanders Makes the Most Sense for Falcons

    Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders will not be the starter for Week 1.

    For an immediate need, Sanders is the Browns quarterback who best fits the discussion. Gabriel is on injured reserve with a back injury and must miss at least the first four games. Whatever trade value he might have later, he cannot solve Atlanta’s early-season availability problem.

    Deshaun Watson has Cleveland’s starting job. Rookie Taylen Green has yet to take a regular-season snap and did not play for Stefanski. Sanders offers both familiarity and some experience after making seven starts under the former Browns coach last season.

    Sanders went 3-4 in those starts, finishing his rookie season with 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. There has already been fresh trade speculation around Sanders, although most of it is unfounded.

    The harder question is whether Cleveland would entertain an offer. Sanders spent training camp competing for the starting job and now provides the Browns with their most reliable available alternative to Watson. Trading him would leave Green as the only healthy quarterback behind the Watson — who comes with significant durability concerns — unless Cleveland added someone else.

    Browns Open With Deshaun Watson Under Pressure

    Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to a preseason game against the New England Patriots at Huntington Bank Field.

    Cleveland’s first unofficial depth chart lists Watson first, Sanders second and Green third heading into Sunday’s opener at Jacksonville. Coach Todd Monken also indicated Sanders will be active against the Jaguars.

    “I do,” Monken said when asked Wednesday.

    That clarification followed a discussion of a possible package for Green, whose running ability could add another wrinkle in specific packages. However, Sanders remains the more experienced choice if Cleveland needs someone to take over the full offense.

    Watson has appeared in just 19 games for the Browns since arriving in 2022 and missed all of last season following two Achilles surgeries. Monken has entrusted him with the offense, but Watson still must show he can stay on the field and make that decision pay off.

    The Browns begin with road games against Jacksonville and Tampa Bay before their home opener against Carolina. A productive start from Watson would give Cleveland more room to consider its options. An injury or early struggles would make Sanders considerably harder to spare.

  • Travis Hunter Starts NFL Season as Jaguars’ Starting Cornerback, Setting Up Potential Shedeur Sanders Matchup

    Travis Hunter Starts NFL Season as Jaguars’ Starting Cornerback, Setting Up Potential Shedeur Sanders Matchup

    Jaguars Name Travis Hunter Starting Cornerback for Week 1 Against Browns

    The Jacksonville Jaguars have spent more than a year answering the same question about Travis Hunter: where will he play? As the 2026 regular season begins, the answer appears clearer than ever.

    Hunter enters Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Stadium as Jacksonville’s No. 1 cornerback and its No. 4 wide receiver, signaling that the Jaguars view defense as his primary responsibility while still leaving the door open for offensive contributions. The alignment reinforces what many around the organization have been saying throughout the offseason: Hunter’s biggest impact is expected to come on the defensive side of the ball.

    Offensive Role Remains Situational

    That doesn’t mean the former Heisman Trophy winner will disappear from the offense. Far from it. Jacksonville still plans to utilize Hunter in selected offensive packages, particularly in situations where his athleticism and playmaking ability can create mismatches. But entering Year 2, the Jaguars appear committed to making him a cornerstone of their secondary first and a situational weapon on offense second.

    Roster Construction Supports Defensive Focus

    Jaguars analysts have consistently projected Hunter to handle the majority of his snaps at cornerback while receiving specialized opportunities as a receiver. The decision makes sense given the makeup of Jacksonville’s roster. The Jaguars already feature established receiving talent, allowing them to be selective with Hunter’s offensive workload.

    Defensively, however, his elite ball skills, instincts and athleticism give Jacksonville a player capable of matching up with opposing No. 1 receivers. Several team observers have predicted that Hunter could quickly develop into one of the NFL’s best young cornerbacks if he remains healthy.

    Potential Hunter-Sanders Reunion Adds Intrigue

    Week 1 could also produce one of the season’s most intriguing storylines. The Browns will arrive in Jacksonville with plenty of uncertainty at quarterback. While veteran Deshaun Watson is expected to open the season as Cleveland’s starter, second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders remains one of the most closely watched players on the roster. Sanders impressed during the preseason before ultimately losing the starting competition.

    If the Browns decide to give Sanders a handful of snaps in Sunday’s game, fans could witness a reunion few could have imagined when both players starred together at Colorado. For two seasons, Hunter and Shedeur helped transform the Buffaloes into one of college football’s biggest attractions. Sanders threw the passes. Hunter made the plays. Now, for the first time, there is a realistic possibility that the former teammates could find themselves on opposite sides of an NFL field. Imagine the scene: Sanders drops back looking for a completion, only to see Hunter lined up across from the intended receiver. A friendship forged in Boulder would temporarily take a back seat to NFL competition.

    Whether that matchup actually materializes remains uncertain. Watson is still expected to handle the majority of the quarterback duties, and there is no guarantee Sanders will see game action. But the possibility alone adds another layer of intrigue to an already compelling opener.

    Jaguars Enter Season with High Expectations

    The Jaguars enter the season with significant expectations. In senior writer John Oehser’s final regular-season power rankings, Jacksonville checked in at No. 4 in the NFL, trailing only the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills. Oehser’s ranking reflects the belief that the Jaguars possess one of the league’s most talented rosters and are capable of making a deep postseason run.

  • Former Dallas Cowboys Player Emerges as Candidate to Replace Shedeur Sanders

    Former Dallas Cowboys Player Emerges as Candidate to Replace Shedeur Sanders

    The Cleveland Browns face a complicated quarterback situation entering the season. The team currently has four quarterbacks under contract, but only three are on the active roster after Dillon Gabriel was placed on injured reserve with a back injury that is expected to sideline him for at least the first month.

    That situation raises the possibility that Cleveland could add a fifth quarterback by claiming Joe Milton III, whom the Dallas Cowboys released on Monday, August 31.

    Jared Mueller of Dawgs By Nature, part of SB Nation, raised the possibility of the Browns pursuing Milton after Dallas made the roster move.

    “Just like Cleveland, the Dallas Cowboys continued their roster juggling on Monday, waiving QB Joe Milton, who many believed would be the team’s primary backup to QB Dak Prescott,” Mueller wrote.

    Cleveland currently holds the sixth position in the NFL waiver order, which could give the Browns an opportunity to claim Milton before another team does.

    “Given Milton’s athletic ability and big arm, he fits HC Todd Monken’s traits for a quarterback,” Mueller continued. “While Cleveland could choose to claim Milton and waive a player at another position, that seems unlikely. Instead, the addition of Milton would likely lead to the departure of either Shedeur Sanders or the rookie Taylen Green. With Milton’s experience and Green entering his first season, Sanders seems like the odd man out if the Browns were to claim Milton.”

    Browns Could Explore a Shedeur Sanders Trade

    If Cleveland claims Milton and decides to move on from Sanders, the Browns would likely explore a trade rather than expose the quarterback to waivers.

    Sanders was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft and finished last season as Cleveland’s starter for the final seven games of his rookie campaign. He also spent the offseason competing with Deshaun Watson for the starting quarterback job, a competition Watson ultimately won in late August.

    Sanders is nevertheless expected to open the season as Watson’s backup. He would have a significant opportunity to reclaim the starting role if Watson fails to meet expectations, a possibility that does not appear far-fetched.

    The Browns’ decision to retain four quarterbacks during the initial roster cutdown to 53 players had already prompted questions about whether one of them could become a trade asset.

    Gabriel was viewed as the most likely quarterback to leave, and that possibility remains. However, his back injury and placement on injured reserve make an immediate trade more difficult.

    Depending on how the first four games unfold, Gabriel could return healthy and compete for a backup role behind a promoted Sanders and ahead of a demoted Watson.

    If Watson remains the starter and Sanders continues as his primary backup, Gabriel could become an appealing trade option after the strong performance he delivered in the preseason finale against the New England Patriots.

    Source: www.marca.com

  • Shedeur Sanders’ Browns Problem Could Worsen If Deshaun Watson Fails

    Shedeur Sanders’ Browns Problem Could Worsen If Deshaun Watson Fails

    Shedeur Sanders could already face a difficult path to playing time with the Cleveland Browns, and that challenge may become even more complicated if Deshaun Watson fails to perform.

    Cleveland’s decision to continue investing in Watson has drawn criticism, especially because Sanders’ development could become tied to the veteran quarterback’s future. ESPN analyst Jason Fitz questioned the entire structure of the Browns’ quarterback room.

    “What a mess. What an absolute mess,” Fitz said.

    Shedeur Sanders caught in Cleveland’s quarterback experiment

    Watson’s contract and status have made Cleveland’s quarterback situation unusually complex. Every decision involving the veteran carries consequences for the players waiting behind him, including Sanders.

    Fitz said the Browns have created a problem that extends beyond the basic question of who should start.

    “You have a quarterback situation where you’re trying to figure out what Deshaun Watson is, you’re trying to figure out what Shedeur Sanders is,” Fitz said.

    That uncertainty could limit Sanders’ development if Cleveland spends too much time trying to make the Watson experiment work before fully evaluating its younger quarterback.

    Sanders entered the NFL needing consistent opportunities to develop, but those chances could become more difficult to find if the Browns remain committed to Watson regardless of his performance.

    Browns could face pressure if Deshaun Watson struggles

    The biggest complication could arise if Watson fails to play well. Cleveland would then face pressure to make a change, but any decision involving Sanders would come amid intense expectations and scrutiny rather than as part of a carefully planned development process.

    Fitz believes the Browns have made their quarterback situation unnecessarily difficult.

    “The Browns have burdened themselves with this Deshaun Watson experiment,” he said.

    That burden could eventually affect Sanders as well. If Watson performs, Sanders may spend significant time waiting for an opportunity. If Watson struggles, calls for a change could place the rookie in a difficult situation before Cleveland has determined whether he is genuinely ready.

    Neither outcome gives Sanders the straightforward development path a young quarterback typically needs. The Browns still have time to establish a clear hierarchy, but their continued uncertainty surrounding Watson risks making Sanders’ first NFL season far more complicated than necessary.

    If the veteran ultimately fails to justify Cleveland’s faith, the pressure surrounding Sanders could quickly become even greater.