Disaster. That's what Shedeur Sanders' debut felt like. After weeks of sitting on the bench, Kevin Stefanski finally handed Sanders the moment he had been waiting for. However, just 4 out of 16 passes completed for 47 yards and no touchdown in the Cleveland Browns' 8th loss of the season was a huge let down. Could this be a sign of things being difficult for Coach Prime's son?

Well, one NFL legend disagrees. Four-time Super Bowl Champion and 2014 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, Rob Gronkowski shared his thoughts on the young star's debut.

"I've been waiting for Shedeur Sanders to have his opportunity in the NFL. Last week was a disaster....It was already a disaster of a game."

But is it the end of the story? Well, Shedeur Sanders wasn't entirely to blame for his poor performance. He came off the bench after Dillon Gabriel halfway through the game. That's why the Gronk thinks Sanders will excel.

"He has a week to prepare, to get knowledge of the playbook, of the plays they're going to run…This is the week we can judge his performance. Shedeur is going to bring it."

And we know the source of Rob Gronkowski’s confidence. After all, Sanders has done it before. During the 2024 CFB season, he had 37 passing touchdowns and 4 rushing touchdowns for the Colorado Buffaloes. Now, with Dillon Gabriel under concussion protocol, Shedeur Sanders will get the nod for the Raiders game, and the Gronk is all for it.

"You can't ask for a better opportunity to have your first career start and it's going against the Raiders. They are one of the worst teams in the NFL right now. I think he gets a win. I think he stays consistent and he remains the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns."

After the Raiders conceded 267 passing yards to Dak Prescott last week, it showed holes in their defense that Sanders can take advantage of. With just a few days left for the game, we'll find out soon enough.

For now, let's see what another NFL legend has to say about Sanders' debut.

Shedeur Sanders' debut brings Coach Prime to tears

When Coach Prime learned about his son playing, he cried tears of joy. After all, Deion Sanders saw him shine at Colorado. And while acknowledging the inconsistencies of the performance, he said, "I know the fight behind the fight. I know what’s been transpiring behind the curtains, and I’m just proud of him. Because he’s not just saying the right things, he’s doing and living the right things. That’s just who he is. He's a Sanders."

Even Shedeur knows the massive weight he will be carrying on his shoulders when game day arrives. "With the circumstances, everything got to be sped up and that's great. I like pressure in life. I'm just excited for everything. So, I feel like I'm the guy. I know I'm the guy, but you just have to be able to see," he explained.

With just a few days left until the Game Week 12 fixture, Sanders has big shoes to fill. The last time both teams met it was in September 2024, as Deshaun Watson scored a touchdown and 176 passing yards while Cleveland lost 16-20. Do you think Shedeur Sanders can turn his team's fortunes around?

Written by

Siddharth Shirwadkar