Two former Colorado Buffaloes are headed toward preseason action this weekend, and both Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are still giving NFL camps something to sort through.
In Jacksonville, the Jaguars’ first unofficial depth chart of training camp brought one notable wrinkle: Hunter was listed only at cornerback. He did not appear at wide receiver on the chart released Tuesday. Because it’s unofficial, that doesn’t lock him out of offense for good, but it does leave that possibility hanging in the air.
Hunter worked both sides of the ball for Jacksonville as a rookie in 2025, though his season was cut short after seven games because of season-ending knee surgery. On defense, he finished with 15 total tackles and three passes defended.
On offense, he caught 28 passes for 298 yards and one touchdown, a 35-yard strike from Trevor Lawrence against the Los Angeles Rams in his final game of the season. The question now is simple enough: will that stand as Hunter’s only NFL receiving touchdown?
That two-way profile is exactly what made Hunter a star at Colorado from 2023-2024. Over 22 games with the Buffaloes, he piled up 66 total tackles, three tackles for loss, seven interceptions, 16 passes defended, and one forced fumble on defense.
He was just as dangerous with the ball in his hands, finishing with 153 receptions for 1,979 yards and 20 touchdowns. That run ended with Hunter winning the 2024 Heisman Trophy, before Jacksonville took him No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
In Cleveland, Sanders is still fighting for the Browns’ starting quarterback job, and the first two preseason games are being handled differently. Earlier this week, Cleveland announced that Deshaun Watson will start Saturday’s preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, according to Browns writer Kelsey Russo. Then Monken said Sanders will get the start in the Browns’ second preseason game on Aug. 22 against the Buffalo Bills.
When reporters asked why the team was naming two different starters to open preseason, Monken kept it straightforward: “I have my reasons for how it’s going to go, and it’s still a competition,” Monken said. “We’ll get a chance to see them both. Every week we’ll assess it.”
Sanders, as a rookie last season for the Browns, played in eight games and started seven. He threw for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Watson did not play last season because of an achilles injury, and Dillon Gabriel was the other Browns quarterback to see significant action.
Before Cleveland, Sanders built his name at Colorado from 2023-2024, where he threw for 7,364 yards and 64 touchdowns while setting an FBS record with a 71.8 percent completion percentage. He was named the 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Browns.
In Other News...
Browns Have Every Reason To Watch Lamar Jackson Drama Closely
Lamar Jacksons contract situation is the kind of AFC North development the Browns cannot ignore. The Ravens quarterback remains one of the toughest problems Cleveland has faced in the division, and any real tension between Jackson and Baltimore carries ripple effects beyond one roster because it could change the balance of power the Browns are chasing every year.
Jason La Canfora has reported that Jackson could even seek a trade if talks break down, which only adds to the intrigue around Baltimores long-term plans. Cleveland has every reason to keep close tabs on it, not just because Jackson has been so difficult for the Browns to contain, but because any upheaval involving a rival quarterback of that caliber would reshape the division conversation in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Mason Graham Sees One Browns Change Fueling His Breakout Push
Mason Grahams first NFL season gave the Browns a solid glimpse of what made him such a prized pick out of Michigan. He held up well against the run and flashed the kind of strength and leverage that can make a defensive tackle hard to move, even if the sack totals never really followed. Now, with Myles Garrett gone, Graham and the rest of Clevelands front know the path to more pressure up front looks different heading into this season.
Training camp has only sharpened that expectation, with reports suggesting Graham has come back faster and more intent on turning more of his interior disruption into real impact plays. For a Browns defense that needs the line to do more than hold its ground, his next step matters. The question is whether the change around him opens the door for that breakout push to turn into something measurable once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Deshaun Watsons Camp Struggles Are Fueling A Browns QB Debate
Deshaun Watsons training camp has already become one of the more closely watched storylines in Berea, and not for the reasons the Browns were hoping. The quarterback has piled up a notable number of interceptions while the rest of the room has looked steadier, which has only sharpened the scrutiny around a position that was already under a bright spotlight entering camp.
Quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian has acknowledged the turnover problem and pointed to a mix of factors behind it, while head coach Todd Monken has also made clear the issues need to be cleaned up. For a team trying to sort out its passing game, the challenge is no longer just about reps or rhythm, but about whether Watson can settle the operation enough to quiet a debate that is getting louder by the day. [Read more 🡒]