As the NFL moves into Week 9 of the 2025 season, the Cleveland Browns face a bye week at a critical time. With rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders sidelined by a back injury, his decision on how to spend the time off is revealing. While his alma mater, Colorado, celebrates its homecoming, Sanders is making a choice that could define the next chapter of his young career and potentially alter the course of the Browns’ struggling offense.
Why Did Shedeur Sanders Skip Homecoming for Cleveland?
Following his inactive status in Week 8 due to back tightness, Sanders made his bye week plans clear: he is prioritizing his health over a return to his old stomping grounds. As he continues to rehab, the rookie quarterback confirmed he will not be attending Colorado’s homecoming festivities.
🔥 Shedeur Focued. Staying in Cleveland. Will Not Return to Boulder Over Bye-Week
“I’m not coming to CU homecoming. I wish I could though. I got treatment out here. I gotta get ready. Big ready”
📽️ @ShedeurSanders https://t.co/HappW2mPaQ pic.twitter.com/bLKAVT0Lle
— JaKi 🇺🇸 (@JaKiTruth) October 30, 2025
“I’m not coming to CU homecoming. I can’t make it out there. I wish I could, though. I got treatment out here. I gotta get ready. Big ready,” Sanders said, confirming he would remain in Cleveland during the bye.
Sanders intends to make the most of the bye week, seeking treatment to resolve the back tightness that kept him inactive for the Browns’ recent loss to the Patriots. While fans of Sanders and the program in Boulder were hoping to see their former star quarterback, his focus is clearly on healing and preparing for the weeks ahead with the Browns.
Could a Healthy Sanders Take Over the Starting Job?
The decision to stay in Cleveland makes sense, especially considering Sanders’ ambition to move up the depth chart. Before head coach Kevin Stefanski and the Browns can consider starting him as QB1, Sanders needs to get healthy. Once he is, that decision might not be far from reality.
The Browns’ offense has been struggling, which makes a potential switch from Dillon Gabriel to Sanders more conceivable. PFSN gives the Cleveland offense a grade of F and an offensive impact score of 54.9, the worst in the entire NFL.
Gabriel has struggled through six games and four starts. According to PFSN’s QB Impact metrics, he has a score of 52.4, which ranks 35th out of 37 qualified quarterbacks.
While the offense’s struggles are not entirely the rookie quarterback’s fault, many are wondering when Sanders will get his chance. If his back injury clears up, we may not be far from seeing what he can do.
Staying in Cleveland through the bye week shows Sanders’ focus and commitment to securing the starting spot. While players often use the break to rest and get away, his choice to remain near the team facility instead of heading back to Colorado for homecoming shows he is intent on accelerating his recovery. That dedication prepares him for an opportunity that could come sooner than expected.
If he continues to progress and the Browns’ offense remains stagnant, the conversation about Sanders moving into the starting role will no longer be speculative, it will be inevitable.