Everyone wanted to see if the Prime Effect would actually translate to the NFL. When Shedeur Sanders stepped onto the field for the Cleveland Browns during the 2025 preseason, the spotlight wasn't just bright; it was blinding. Some fans expected him to instantly look like a Hall of Famer because of his name. Others were just waiting for him to fail so they could say he was a "product of the system."
Honestly? The truth about shedeur sanders preseason stats is somewhere right in the middle. It wasn't a perfect coronation, but it definitely wasn't the disaster critics were hoping for. If you just look at the raw box score, you might miss the nuance of how he actually handled the speed of the professional game.
Breaking down the shedeur sanders preseason stats from 2025
The Browns took things slow with Shedeur. In the first preseason matchup against the Panthers on August 8, he showed exactly why Cleveland spent a fifth-round pick on him. He went 14-of-23 for 138 yards. That’s about 6 yards per attempt, which is sort of average, but he threw two touchdowns and, most importantly, zero interceptions.
He looked poised. You could see the footwork he developed at Colorado.
By the third week against the Rams, the stats looked a bit weirder. He only completed 3 of 6 passes for 14 yards. Sounds terrible, right? But he was playing behind a third-string offensive line that basically let the defense through on every play. He was sacked 5 times in that short appearance. That is a lot of punishment for a preseason game.
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- Week 1 (at Panthers): 14/23, 138 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT (Rating: 106.8)
- Week 3 (vs. Rams): 3/6, 14 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 5 sacks (Rating: 56.2)
His rushing during the preseason was also a mixed bag. Against Carolina, he scrambled 4 times for 19 yards. It showed he has the mobility to escape, but he isn't exactly Lamar Jackson out there. He’s a "thrower first," as most scouts would say.
Why the sack numbers are a massive red flag
You can't talk about Shedeur's debut without talking about the sacks. It's basically been the story of his career since his days in Boulder. During the preseason, he was taking sacks at a rate that would make most coaches pull their hair out.
Is it the offensive line? Partially. But Shedeur has this habit of holding the ball too long. He’s looking for the big play. He wants the highlight. In the NFL, that "Superman" mentality usually gets you hit. Hard.
We saw this carry over into the regular season, where he eventually took 23 sacks in just 8 games. If you're looking for a lesson in his preseason performance, it’s that his internal clock was still set to "College Speed." He was trying to out-athlete guys who are just as fast as he is.
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The leap from Colorado to Cleveland
When Shedeur left Colorado, he had an NCAA-leading 74% completion percentage. That’s surgical. In the preseason, he kept some of that accuracy, but the windows got smaller.
Critics like to point out that he played in his dad’s system for years. They worried he couldn't adapt to a pro-style offense. In Cleveland, he had to learn to take snaps from under center—something he did exactly eight times in his entire college career.
Watching him in the preseason, you could see the "thinking" happening. He wasn't always playing fast. He was processing.
| Metric | Preseason Performance | Scout Take |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | High on short routes | NFL ready |
| Pocket Presence | Calm but holds ball | Needs to speed up |
| Arm Strength | Good for intermediate | Lacks "Elite" zip |
He’s got a compact release. That's a huge plus. But during that Rams game, his average time-to-throw was way too high. You simply cannot survive in the North Division if you’re hanging onto the ball for 3.5 seconds.
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What the "experts" missed in the preseason
Most people focused on the two touchdowns against the Panthers. They saw the "Sanders" on the jersey and the celebrations. What they missed was his ability to work through progressions.
There was a play in the second quarter where he moved from his primary read on the left to a check-down on the right. It wasn't a "sexy" play. It only gained 4 yards. But for a rookie quarterback, that’s a massive win. It shows he’s not just a "one-read-and-run" guy.
He finished the preseason with a completion percentage around 58% across his limited snaps. That’s a far cry from his 74% at Colorado, but preseason rosters are messy. You're throwing to guys who might be selling insurance three weeks later.
Actionable insights for the next season
If you're following Shedeur's career or looking at him for a dynasty fantasy football league, there are a few things you need to watch. The preseason stats were just the appetizer.
- Watch the Sack Rate: If he doesn't lower his time-to-throw (which was 3.09 seconds in the regular season), his career will be short. He needs to learn that a throwaway is better than a 7-yard loss.
- Intermediate Accuracy: This is his bread and butter. He’s lethal on 10-15 yard out routes. If the Browns give him a reliable tight end, his numbers will explode.
- The "Check-down" Evolution: He needs to embrace the boring plays. Success in the NFL is about staying on schedule, not just hunting for 40-yard bombs.
The preseason showed us a talented, slightly overconfident kid with a world-class pedigree. He didn't set the world on fire, but he proved he belongs on an NFL roster. Now, it's just a matter of whether he can survive the hits.
The biggest takeaway from the shedeur sanders preseason stats isn't the touchdowns—it's the potential. He has the "it" factor, but the NFL is a league of efficiency. If he can bridge the gap between his playmaking instincts and the requirements of a pro-style system, Cleveland might have actually found something.