The preseason debut for Shedeur Sanders was a near-unanimous success. Even though he walked into the game with a ton of question marks surrounding his ability to handle an NFL offense, the rookie put in a commendable first performance, with a consistent game plan throughout, interspersed with a few highlight-worthy plays. All in all, his performance was a major positive in establishing his credibility.
However, there is no harsher critic for yourself than yourself. And for Sanders, that meant that a game that drew him praise from every corner of the NFL fandom wasn’t up to the standards he had set for himself. As a result, in a post-match interview, the Cleveland Browns superstar had a rather surprising assessment of his performance.
How Did Shedeur Sanders Fare in His NFL Preseason Debut?
The raw numbers for the fifth-round pick were absolutely stellar. Projected to be a first-round pick before the draft, his performance was a clear reminder of the talent that made him such a highly sought-after prospect.
In one half, he tallied 103 yards and two touchdowns, completing 11 passes on 18 attempts in the first half alone. That included a nifty completion for his second touchdown, which he made in motion, moving to his left.
Similarly, his ability to scramble and make something out of nothing was on full display right from the beginning. Ending the first half with 20 yards on three carries, it included a pivotal third-down conversion on a broken play as well.
As a result, the general verdict was a major thumbs-up for the youngster. Superstars like Robert Griffin III, Ryan Clark, Chase Daniel, and Richard Sherman made direct social media posts congratulating and celebrating Sanders’ debut.
However, for the 144th overall pick, his work wasn’t fully up to par. Speaking to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network, he talked about his experience of suiting up in an NFL game for the first time. “Just wanted to get my feet wet. This was a good practice showing.”
“I’m playing for people who don’t have a voice.”
My @nflnetwork 1-on-1 with #Browns QB Shedeur Sanders after his strong preseason debut. He critically gave himself a C+ on day and pledged more to come. pic.twitter.com/PMYlb5oHCn
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) August 9, 2025
But he did believe there was “a lot of room to grow” for him as a quarterback, both in terms of consistency and finding a rhythm. Then, when it came to grading himself, Sanders gave himself a modest C+.
Why such a low grade when the internet has been spellbound by his work? “Pops said, ‘Take advantage of every opportunity.’ I didn’t feel like I did. So I feel like I let him down a little bit.” However, as far as the raw performance goes, he also believed his control of the offense was smooth.
Multiple times during the conversation, Sanders repeated his gratitude for getting the opportunity. After minimal reps with the first team in the weeks leading up to the game, his chemistry with his teammates was a serious cause for concern.
However, given all the circumstances and factors at play, the rookie quarterback did enough to warrant a second look in his direction.