QB Shedeur Sanders (8.22.26)
How comfortable did you feel out there today, especially on those early drives?
“I would say I feel the same how I feel every day.”
To start eight-for-eight on and get the touchdown to Luke Floriea – do you feel like you were able to find a rhythm pretty quickly?
“No, like, I feel like that every day. I’m being honest – just because I went eight-for-eight, I don’t really keep track of that. In my mind, I get to that place every day in practice, so it just translates.”
What were you most proud of today?
“I’d say getting the first completion was the biggest difference, and then it was just rolling from there. And operating within the huddle, the play clock and everything – being on time, not letting the play clock get too low to where it could be a hazard. I was just operating and being in control. That’s it.”
Todd said how impressed he’s been by you, not just today, but since the start of the offseason program. Can you look back on how you’ve improved from then until now?
“I’ve improved every aspect of my life. I’d say I’ve improved my relationship with God – being able to come up here every day and talk to everybody, regardless of people’s opinions or what they say online. Even those sitting in front of me today, I still approach and greet you all with kindness, because God gave me that. God gave me the wisdom to be able to not be emotionally affected by people, because I’m here for a bigger purpose.”
As a football player specifically, how have you improved?
“I’ll say football is an aspect of my life, but I’m God sent, honestly, and that’s me being a football player.”
There was a fourth-down play to Blake where you stood in the pocket. Todd mentioned you being comfortable waiting for him to come open. What did you see on that play? And what about the touchdown to Luke in the back of the end zone?
“I would say we had a play that we could have gotten to another play, and I liked the look, because it showed two different front side, it was zone backside, it was man. We talk about decisions, about not needing to be in the perfect place or trying to get too perfect – just go with your gut and how you feel. I stuck with the play, went through my progressions, and I kind of know how things are going to play out sometimes. I was able to find comfort in that because I know my guys are going to be on the field. And yeah, I like pressure situations. I like the two-minute drill. I like all these aspects you’d want your quarterback to handle – that’s what makes me who I am. I grew up with pressure, so I like those moments. That’s when I feel my best. Even thinking about the two-minute drill – we had a similar one last time we played the Bills, and we weren’t really successful. They got me once then, I couldn’t let that happen a second time. They did great job in their scheme the first time we played them last year. But I just feel like when it comes to being able to move the ball, I’m the guy who likes to move the ball, and likes to put it in the air.”
Have you ever dealt with a game delay like today and what were you doing during it?
“I was just talking to God, honestly – that’s all I was doing. Because it can get frustrating sometimes when you’re ready and it’s just not time yet. But God gave me the wisdom to be able to just, regardless be able to go out there and just be you. I think about that in every aspect of life. If it’s something you want and it’s not on your time, when you want things to happen, it on God’s time, when it’s supposed to happen. That’s what I live by and that’s what I think of. So I’m patient with everything in life, because nothing’s really on my time.”
We just talked to Deshaun and he’s upset about the fan reaction, and you’ve talked about being mentally tough in that situation. When you’re competing against a guy but your teammates also know you have that mental stability to come alongside him, how was that for you?
“Yeah, I mean, in general, I don’t appreciate that at all. Regardless of competition, we’re all human beings. I think we all need to understand that. In this room too, we’re all humans. I don’t do things to humans that I wouldn’t want done to me. I don’t like making people feel uncomfortable in different spaces, and that’s why, even in daily things I do, I try to make sure everybody’s comfortable. Because I know sometimes just being who I am can make people uncomfortable. I’m aware of that. For all the fans, we appreciate you showing up, and however you feel about the situation with Deshaun and everything, I think it’s more about a bigger purpose and it’s respect. It’s a respect thing that I feel should be there, because we’re all out there trying to do our best and serve the franchise the best way possible. We’re going out there to win games, doing everything we can. So I don’t really appreciate that.”
How has your relationship with Deshaun evolved from last year to this year through this competition?
“I’d say over time, everybody’s more comfortable. Last year I was more trying to figure out what I had to do each day just to stay in the right mental space – that’s where I was last year. But this year, I’ve been able to get comfortable, talk to all my teammates a lot more, and be myself. That’s why when it’s fourth-and-short and I feel comfortable out there, that’s because I’m myself. Being able to have those relationships with everybody in the quarterback room is extremely important. That’s even what the coaches said when they first got here. This quarterback room, everybody’s got to be a unit, got to be a team, regardless of who’s going out there, because you’d want that same respect if you were the one going out there. Our motto is really to treat everyone how you want to be treated, honestly, and not really play into the online games and all that other stuff.”
With you guys waiting on a quarterback decision and controlling what you can control – after starting today, and however the decision comes in the next few days – how do you feel about the job you’ve done?
“I wake up and feel the same, honestly. I think if you do things based on the situation you’re in and you’re not doing everything to your max – you’re not giving your all, that’s on you. I don’t just want to be the starter…now I’ve got to lock in a little more. That’s why I told everybody in the pregame – I don’t know if you all caught that, because there was some language in there, but I told them we did everything, so there’s no point being nervous. There’s no point feeling any different type of way. We put in the work, we did everything we could. And I don’t live with regrets. Anything I’ve done, that’s just who I am. I don’t live with regrets. So, I sleep better at night knowing I did everything I can, and however things fall, they fall.”
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