When Shedeur Sanders finally stepped onto the preseason stage, he didn’t just show up—he made sure everyone remembered his name. The first few snaps? A bit wobbly. But once he locked in, it was fireworks. Two absolute darts to Kaden Davis before halftime turned a slow start into a statement.

And here’s the thing—Sanders’ night wasn’t just about those highlight-reel throws. He finished the half going 11-of-18 for 103 yards, tacking on 19 rushing yards, and most importantly, zero turnovers. For a fifth-round pick buried fourth on the depth chart, that’s squeaky clean. The touchdowns might’ve stolen the spotlight, but the real gem was in the details. He stayed cool when the O-line shuffled mid-game, kept his reads sharp, and never let rookie jitters creep in.

Better yet, Sanders showed he could lead when it mattered most. Both of his scoring drives came right after the Browns’ defense slipped up, but instead of crumbling under the pressure, he punched back—fast. Rolling out, hitting tight windows, and adjusting tempo like he’d been here for years. Yet, once the dust settled, the rookie had something to get off his chest. Right after the game, he sent an apology to Dad, Deion Sanders.

“Sorry pops, I ain’t do what I was supposed to do fully,” Shedeur Sanders admitted after his first preseason start. Then he doubled down, saying, “I feel like today I did some good some bad and I know moving forward I won’t make the same mistakes twice.” And pops? He was beaming. “Yes Lawd! Yes!” Deion tweeted after that first touchdown, following up with, “God is so good,” after the second. A proud father, soaking in the moment.

But Deion wasn’t the only one watching. WNBA powerhouse South Carolina Gamecocks’ head coach Dawn Staley jumped in with, “Super happy for @ShedeurSanders! You can try to break a young fella’s spirit but you can’t touch his talent! Do the damn thing Shedeur!!!” And then came NBA royalty—LeBron James himself. “That young 🤴🏾 looking good out there! @ShedeurSanders Keep going UP!!! HEAD down on the grind and HEAD high to the most high 🙌🏾🫡,” he wrote.

So, for the Sanders family, this wasn’t just a debut—it was a night that put the whole sports world on notice. However, for Shedeur, the sad part may be that Deion was not present at the game.

Why Deion Sanders is not attending son Shedeur’s NFL debut game

So, when the Browns took the field for Shedeur Sanders’ big NFL debut, there was one face fans expected to spot—Coach Prime’s. Yet, Deion Sanders was nowhere near the sidelines. For those picturing a proud dad moment under the Cleveland lights, his absence felt unusual. But Shedeur himself later explained there’s more to the story than just a scheduling conflict.

In fact, when NFL reporter Cameron Wolfe pressed him on his dad’s no-show, Shedeur’s answer was blunt and very on brand. “He told his dad, Deion, don’t come out here until I earn more reps.” That’s not just a throwaway line—the rookie has set his own benchmark. Until he’s a real factor in the Browns’ game plan, even Coach Prime is staying in Colorado.

Besides, think about it—why would a rookie QB tell his Hall of Fame father to skip his first NFL snaps? Maybe because he wants Deion to see him at his best, when he’s the centerpiece of the action. Getting a few preseason series doesn’t exactly scream “main character energy.” He didn’t spell it out, but the logic is clear enough.

And let’s be real—Deion Sanders showing up is a media storm in itself. His presence would only add noise to an already hyped-up debut, and that’s the last thing Shedeur or the Browns need right now. Cleveland’s QB room is still packed, and coaches are looking for clarity without extra distractions. For Shedeur, “earning reps” is an uphill climb—but today, the spotlight stays on him.