Two former Colorado stars are in the NFL spotlight for very different reasons this week.
Shedeur Sanders is set to start for Cleveland on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints after an injury to Deshaun Watson opened the door. Meanwhile, Travis Hunter and the Jacksonville Jaguars are on a bye, giving Colorado fans a chance to zero in on Sanders’ latest opportunity.
Sanders’ path in Cleveland has already taken a few sharp turns. He began the season buried on the Browns’ depth chart as the fourth quarterback, then worked his way into the starting job by the end of the year. That earlier opening came after an injury to Dillon Gabriel, and now Watson’s concussion protocol has created another chance for the former Colorado quarterback to step in.
The Browns took Sanders with the No. 144 overall pick in the fifth round after his draft-night slide became one of the biggest surprises of the class. He had finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting the same year Hunter won the award, but his NFL landing spot came much later than expected.
As a rookie, Sanders threw for 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 56.6 percent of his passes. The precision he showed at Colorado hasn’t shown up the same way in the pros just yet.
In Boulder, Sanders led the nation in 2025 by completing 74 percent of his passes. He also paced the Big 12 with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns while playing for his father, Colorado coach Deion Sanders.
Hunter, taken by the Jaguars with the No. 2 overall pick after becoming the second player in Colorado football history to win the Heisman Trophy, has also drawn plenty of attention in his second NFL season. His rookie year ended early because of a knee injury, but he has been making noise on both sides of the ball this season.
So far, Hunter has recorded two interceptions and allowed a 65-percent completion percentage on his targets. He has also added seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. Against the Texans, he caught four passes for 59 yards and a touchdown, and afterward Jaguars coach Liam Coen pointed to Hunter’s value in helping Jacksonville win.
"We want to make sure that we're continuing to build on the right trajectory that gives us the best chance to win on Sundays. We've won a lot of games with him maybe not playing 100 snaps. And last week, you saw his impact and effect on games where he is playing more."
Jacksonville’s bye follows two straight games in London, England, along with its Thursday Night Football matchup against Houston, so Hunter will be off the field this weekend. That leaves Sanders as the Colorado name to watch when the Browns meet the Saints on Sunday, Nov. 8.
In Other News...
Jaguars Are Forcing Their Way Into The AFC Contender Debate
Through eight weeks, the Jaguars have done more than stay relevant in the AFC race. They have pushed themselves into the conversation with the kind of steady play that forces the rest of the conference to take notice. In a league where the Chiefs and Bills usually dominate the contender discussion, Jacksonville has earned a seat at the table by showing it can stack wins, handle pressure and look every bit like a team with playoff staying power.
What makes the Jaguars interesting is not just where they sit right now, but how they fit into a crowded field of hopefuls. The AFC remains loaded, and the margin between legitimate contender and good story is thin, especially with strong teams still sorting out their identities. Jacksonville has already done enough to be mentioned alongside the conferences best, and the real question now is whether this level of play is the start of something bigger or simply the opening act. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Face A Surprising Brian Thomas Jr Decision As Deadline Nears
The Jaguars have spent the season trying to build toward a competitive finish, but one of the more surprising questions hanging over the roster is what to do with Brian Thomas Jr. Despite his limited role in the offense, Jacksonville has been hesitant to move the wide receiver, even as the deadline approaches and the fit has clearly become less comfortable. For a team looking to add rather than subtract, it is an unusual spot to be in with a player whose playing time has already slipped.
Still, the trade chatter has not gone away, and the expectation around the league is that Thomas could be dealt before the deadline, potentially to a noncontending team looking for help at receiver. The Jaguars are weighing a decision that speaks to both the direction of the season and the way the offense has evolved, with Thomas now at the center of a move that would say plenty about where Jacksonville sees its immediate future. [Read more 🡒]
Jakobi Meyers Trade Looks Better Than Jaguars Fans Expected
When the Jaguars sent a 2026 fourth-rounder and sixth-rounder to the Raiders for Jakobi Meyers, it looked like the kind of midseason move that might need time to prove itself. ESPNs Seth Walder has now revisited the deal and moved Jacksonvilles grade from a C+ to a B+, a sign the early returns have been stronger than many expected. Meyers has fit into the offense well enough to draw an in-season contract extension, which is usually a pretty good indicator a trade is doing more than just filling a short-term need.
For Jacksonville, the appeal goes beyond what Meyers has already provided on the field. Walder pointed out that the move has also helped the Jaguars 2026 outlook, which matters when a team is trying to balance present production with future flexibility. The full value of the trade still depends on what comes next, but for now it looks like one of those deals that is aging better than the initial reaction suggested. [Read more 🡒]