After eight weeks, Shedeur Sanders is in line to potentially get his first start of the season for the Cleveland Browns.
But even as Sanders gears up for what could very well be an audition for next year, his confidence and bravado ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the New Orleans Saints rubbed Jason Whitlock the wrong way.
Jason Whitlock Doesn’t Think Shedeur Sanders Understands the Magnitude of Week 9 Start
With Cleveland off to a 5-3 start, the chances of Sanders recapturing the role appeared to be diminishing. Deshaun Watson entered concussion protocol Tuesday after developing symptoms following a helmet-to-helmet hit against Pittsburgh in Week 8, paving the way for the second-year quarterback to start.
Sanders got the starting job for the final seven games of last season after being drafted 144th overall. He threw more interceptions than touchdowns in the 2025 season and ranked 36th in PFN’s QB Impact Score with a 62.6 grade.
A number of analysts also took issue with Sanders’ attitude. This week, after Sanders addressed those criticisms, Whitlock remained far from impressed.
Sanders was asked on Wednesday to assess the Saints’ defense but avoided giving a straight answer. Instead, he said that his smile said more than words could.
“When I smile, just know that means something,” Sanders said, when asked if he got the chance to study the opposing team’s defense. “I’m maturing, you know what I’m saying? I’m maturing. Like, I could have given a decent answer, but now I’m just going to smile.”
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The incident left Whitlock stunned, particularly since Sanders had also claimed he’d matured.
“What was that? He’s got a great opportunity this weekend. If Deshaun Watson’s out, he gets to start against the Saints. Shedeur doesn’t have the ability to provide an answer that doesn’t reveal the full truth.”
Coming into the draft, that was one of the biggest knocks against Sanders. While some called him out for being overconfident, there were even allegations that draft interviews didn’t work out well with teams for the same reasons.
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But Whitlock took it a step too far; he then turned his attention to Sanders’ parentage. Pointing to Deion Sanders and his personality, he believed the legendary dual-sport athlete was to blame for his son’s current attitude problems.
“Deion is like a child, and I don’t think we should be shocked that his son has arrested development and doesn’t know how to conduct himself as an adult, because his father doesn’t either.”
It remains to be seen if the Sanders family responds to Whitlock after his comments. But pointing the blame at the father might have taken it a step too far for the media veteran.
