Deion Sanders Sends 5-Word Message With Shedeur Sanders’ Career at Crossroads After Browns Decision

The Cleveland Browns have listed Shedeur Sanders fourth on their first quarterback depth chart of the season—behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel, but ahead of Deshaun Watson, who is still sidelined on the PUP list. A rookie, once predicted to be the No.1 overall pick, will now have to earn every snap. But that task just got tougher, too, with the Browns signing Tyler Huntley to an already crowded QB room.

The signs were visible well before the depth chart was released. On Locked on Browns, Spencer German pointed out the early split in reps, noting that Flacco and Pickett were already alternating with the first unit while Shedeur Sanders wasn’t in that mix at all. Gabriel was working behind them, and Shedeur was firmly in developmental territory. German described it as a “1A and 1B” setup between Flacco and Pickett, leaving little room for movement. Then came the unexpected addition of Tyler Huntley, who previously spent time with the Browns in preseason and started five games for Miami last year—further tightening the competition and making Shedeur’s path even more uphill.

Still, Shedeur hasn’t asked for support, not even from his father. “I don’t want him coming to see me right now because I want to get to where I want to go, then for him to see me… you can’t be proud of me right now,” he said in an interview. And Deion Sanders, he may have kept his distance, still recovering from bladder cancer surgery, but he has got a message to share. Taking to Instagram, he wrote, “The reason it’s tough for u to walk away from some things is that u didn’t give them you’re all & now you’re in conflict. You have regret & you know in your heart you weren’t right. Make peace with whatever it is & move on because–” Then came the final line that didn’t read like a platitude but more like a message sent relevant to his son’s situation:

“Today needs all of you,” read the last line; the five-word message that can stand as both a challenge and an anchor with Shedeur facing limited reps, heavy competition, and a depth chart that puts him at the bottom. And yet, for all the pressure and patience the situation demands, a new window is opening—one that brings both risk and rare opportunity.

With Joe Flacco expected to sit, and both Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel sidelined by hamstring injuries, Shedeur Sanders is now in line to start the Browns’ preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers. As reported by Cleveland.com‘s Mary Kay Cabot, the rookie is set to take the field Friday night in Charlotte, offering fans their first extended look at him in live NFL action. He’s yet to throw to first-team receivers like Jerry Jeudy or David Njoku in practice, but his accuracy, improved pocket awareness, and steady command of the pre-snap process have earned praise from coaches and reporters alike.

For a player who’s been brought along slowly, the sudden spotlight is no guarantee of a fast-track up the depth chart—but it is a shot. And it’s one Sanders has been preparing for all along.