Multiple former Colorado Buffaloes stand out during Week 1 of the NFL preseason

USA Today

4 days ago

Members of the black and gold no more, numerous Colorado Buffaloes made their debut at the next level in the first week of NFL preseason this weekend.
Some made national headlines, while others gave fans of their new teams a sneak peek of the stars that they could become, but all around, it was a fantastic week for the former Buffs. So let's jump into detailing the performances of every Colorado football alum who saw significant playing time in Week 1 of the preseason.
QB Shedeur Sanders
Statline: 14/23, 138 passing yards, 2 touchdowns
Of course, we have to start with Sanders as he's been the talk of the preseason so far. After an offseason more akin to Homer's Odyssey, Sanders showed out in his Cleveland Browns debut. His start impressed with pinpoint accuracy, improved pocket presence and great arm strength. It's just a start, but it's hard to imagine a better start to Sanders' NFL career.
WR/CB Travis Hunter
Statline: 2 catches for 9 yards, no tackles
Hunter only played 18 snaps in his Jacksonville Jaguars debut, with the majority of them on offense, but he did play both sides of the ball. His two catches were simple but impressive, coming off of option routes that impressed Jags' head coach Liam Coen.
His defense was limited, and he only recorded a missed tackle on a run by Steelers' running back Kaleb Johnson. With how much Jacksonville gave up to get Hunter, it's unlikely he'll see much time in the preseason, but he continued to impress with a small sample size this week.
WR LaJohntay Wester
Statline: 2 catches for 41 yards, 82-yard punt return touchdown
While his performance might have been a little overshadowed by Sanders, there isn't a former Buffalo who helped himself more than Wester did in his debut. The sixth-round pick flashed his elite speed multiple times, starting with an incredible punt return touchdown where he easily made two Colts miss before sneaking through a gap and accelerating downhill. Most of his receiving yards came off a toe-tapping 30-yard catch on the sideline in the third quarter. Week 1 was a stellar outing for Wester, who could prove to be a difference maker for a wide receiver-hungry team like the Baltimore Ravens.
WR Jimmy Horn Jr.
Statline: 4 catches for 15 yards, 2 kick returns for 29 yards
Horn led the Panthers in receptions in their contest against the Browns, but there were few highlights to be had in his debut. He saw plenty of action, both in the passing game and special teams, showing that Carolina believes Horn could be something special. Horn showed out in the Panthers' interteam scrimmage, but he'll look to improve on his performance next week.
WR Xavier Weaver
Statline: 2 catches for 14 yards and 1 touchdown, 1 punt return for 18 yards
Heading into his second year in the NFL, Weaver made a couple of nice plays in the Cardinals' preseason opener. The highlight of his day came at the end of the first half as he made a tough catch on a slant in the red zone to secure the first touchdown of his 2025 campaign. He saw action in two games last year for Arizona, but did not record a stat. Performances like this go a long way in getting Weaver more playing time.
WR Will Sheppard
Statline: 2 catches for 20 yards
The undrafted rookie was the star in a sea of darkness that was the Green Bay Packers' offense's performance in their opener. He led the team in receptions with two and made a great catch over the middle on a bad throw from fellow rookie Taylor Elgersma. The Packers loaded up at wideout this offseason, but a continuation of his play will ensure he finds a spot on an NFL roster somewhere.
S Shilo Sanders
Statline: 1 tackle, 1 quarterback hit
Shilo Sanders has faced many of the same criticisms as his brother, Shedeur, but just like his brother, he played a great first game in the NFL. Shilo made an impact on his very first play as a free blitzer, knocking down Titans' backup Brandon Allen. This wasn't a start that will turn a lot of heads, but a solid performance that Shilo can build on for the rest of the preseason.
DE BJ Green II
Statline: 1 tackle, 1 quarterback hit
Joining Hunter on the Jaguars, Green had a successful debut on the defensive line. He found his way to quarterback once, one of only five Jacksonville defenders to do so. Defensive lineman isn't a position that will put up eye-popping stats, but Green did all the right things in his first NFL action.
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