NFL conspiracy theories persist, largely courtesy of the contentious benching of Shedeur Sanders during the Cleveland Browns‘ final preseason game. Specifically, the two-minute drill. Brother Deion Sanders Jr., usually in tandem at all times, had “other priorities” while Sanders had his final test. While in Colorado, Deion Jr. explained why he didn’t fly to Huntington Bank Field. His absence raised some eyebrows.

As the Browns trotted out against the LA Rams, the spotlight was squarely on Shedeur. Deion Sanders Jr. addressed why he wasn’t there to see it in person, wearing a custom Shedeur-embroidered t-shirt instead. “As you see, I’m not in Cleveland today. I’m here, but I’m in Cleveland in spirit,” he said. “But my stuff hits during the regular season. So, they would have been doing me a favor slash doing a little extra to let me give me the credentials involved on pass for this game. And look, I see life for what it really is. They showing love and doing something for me. So, sorry, they did not give us any. I ain’t going to waste favor, waste grace on this preseason game. I rather fire all four cylinders during the regular season. So that’s why I’m here today. I’m not in Cleveland, but I’m still representing.”

This was supposed to be the final exam before roster cutdowns, the moment where a fifth-round pick with a superstar brand could cement his spot. Instead, the camera kept drifting to the sideline, then the bench, then the swap that left everyone buzzing. The subplot around Jr.’s absence only thickened because of what happened on the field. With Shedeur cleared from his early oblique injury and ready to finish the half, Kevin Stefanski went in a different direction.

In came Tyler “Snoop” Huntley for the closing two-minute drill. It was a coach’s decision, not a medical one. Asked postgame about the move, Shedeur admitted, “I thought I was in and then he told me I wasn’t.” That line—simple, yet sharp—ignited speculation that this wasn’t just about reps, but about trust, leverage, and where Sanders truly stands in the Browns’ four-QB shuffle.

The most talked-about fifth-round pick in recent memory entered the NFL as not just a Colorado Buffaloes standout but also as one of the most lucrative NIL stars in college history. Yet NFL coaches crave consistency in situational football, and Stefanski’s decision suggested he wanted to see Huntley in that crucible moment. That’s where the conspiracy theories flood in—was Sanders protected, or was he being quietly sidelined?

Then came the family layer. Deion Sanders Jr., cryptic as ever, posted a Bible verse after the game: “From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me, but they have never defeated me.” No accident there—when your family is football royalty, every word doubles as a headline. Mom Pilar added another spark hours before kickoff with a post that drew attention to Shedeur’s every move. For a preseason finale that should’ve faded into box-score obscurity, the Sanders family made sure the storyline lingered well beyond the whistle.

The Browns have until Tuesday at 4 p.m. Eastern to cut down to 53, with four quarterbacks in the room and only so many spots to hand out. The Sanders saga has become part of a bigger roster math equation.

Deion Sanders Jr. replaced by Pilar & Shelomi Sanders

On Instagram, Pilar Sanders knew exactly how to grab attention—and she brought backup. Just hours before the Browns’ preseason finale, Pilar dropped a video of herself alongside her daughter, Shelomi Sanders, rocking custom Browns game-day dresses that turned plenty of heads.

Pilar went bold in bright orange, while Shelomi balanced the look in a sharp brown, creating a mother-daughter duo moment that the internet couldn’t ignore. The caption was classic Pilar, playful and proud: “Heeey guess who – your fav pair @shelomisanders ! #12 Go #shedeursanders.”

The timing was no accident. Their post landed right before rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was expected to get reps in Cleveland’s final preseason game. The Sanders family has always known how to command a stage, whether it’s on the field or on social media, and this was no different. Within minutes, the video racked up thousands of likes and a flood of comments.