Shedeur Sanders Press Conference — August 12th, 2026

[0:00] First, I want to apologize for how things was last time I came up here before y'all. [0:09] I think dearly, I dislike when it's a lot of separation [0:15] and when something gets between the team [0:20] and people get painted a certain way and all this different type of stuff. [0:24] So that's where I get frustrated and I shut down, you know, [0:28] because this doesn't help us win. [0:31] So it's kind of like an option but not an option. [0:34] So I feel drained when I express myself to people and places and cameras [0:40] when it's not received and taken the right way [0:42] or we're trying to divide the team or anything like that. [0:45] So that's where I was just trying to preserve my energy [0:48] from going in depth with a lot of things. [0:50] So definitely. [0:54] Schuder, how do you think you played the last couple of weeks in relation to how you started? [0:57] Yeah, I think each and every day we improved as a team. [1:03] I got more comfortable within the offense. [1:05] It's definitely still challenges every day that you got to correct and focus on [1:11] and be able to improve. [1:14] Do you know when you'll be going into the game Saturday? [1:17] No. [1:18] Coach Munkin, he's going to tell you how he told y'all. [1:21] Y'all will know as soon as we know. [1:25] Schuder, coaches talk so much about the pre-snap operation. [1:29] And yesterday Coach Schweitzer talked about trying to save those eight seconds. [1:32] How important is that in your role and how much improvement do you think you made the coaches [1:38] all say that you've gotten so much better? [1:41] It's very important. [1:42] That's why I talk about saving your energy. [1:46] Throughout my day, I find ways on how I can save my energy to be able to be a battery out there, [1:53] to be able to operate fast and do everything with a purpose and very quickly. [1:59] You can't do all that when you're pulled in a lot of different directions because that's how I feel drained. [2:06] I feel drained that way. [2:07] And I tested it. [2:09] So I know what helps me and what puts me in the best situation to operate how the coaches would like. [2:18] Is there one thing in particular when you're in a game situation that you're really kind of looking forward [2:25] to seeing where you've grown the most from last year, from that Cincinnati game to finally getting back out there [2:32] in a real game setting and seeing where it's improved the most? [2:36] No, we approach practice like a game. [2:39] So it's the same amount of focus and seriousness that it is. [2:43] So that's what I'm excited to feel is, like, how similar does it feel to practice, honestly, [2:53] because it's a different type of intention and a mentality, you know, that we go out there every day with. [3:12] You know, that happened this past offseason, getting back into it. [3:17] Just from throwing a lot, honestly, that's where it came from. [3:21] And they all healed up now. [3:25] Yeah, but that was the thing, like, I would say at the start of training camp and everything [3:30] that, you know, we just had to work through and be able to figure out. [3:35] So you decide that you treat practice like a game. [3:40] So what areas specifically do you think you've improved most in since that last game? [3:49] I would say being a great teammate, especially to that guy right there. [3:56] What was your question? [4:00] If you had a walk-out-of-the-tunnel song, what song would it be? [4:05] It would be Perfect Timing. [4:07] It would be Perfect Timing. [4:08] I hope yours would be that, too. [4:11] So you could go ahead with the answer, if you would. [4:15] What was the question? [4:17] You said that you treat practice like a game. [4:20] So my question was, what specific areas have you improved since the end of last year? [4:26] I wouldn't really say improved most. [4:28] So I'll say every area I try to improve, it's like a chart within myself and seeing, okay, [4:37] if I got 10 different areas to improve, like, let's improve each area every day, you know, [4:42] until it gets to max threshold. [4:44] Max threshold, that'll take some time, you know. [4:46] That's going to take a couple years, you know, max threshold. [4:49] But I think I'm improving in every area overall. [4:55] Coach Munkin was saying the other day that to see you in preseason games because it's a little bit different [5:00] when a quarterback can get hit, there's maybe an extra layer of evaluation there. [5:05] How, if at all, does the game change for you when you know you can be hit? [5:08] Um, you got to think of how many times I got hit in college. [5:14] You know, that don't really faze me at all at this point in life. [5:19] And obviously it's the league, and I got hit multiple times last year. [5:24] So I like the challenge of going out there to be able to get the ball out of my hands so I don't get hit. [5:34] You know, that's the challenge for me, to be able to make the right reads, [5:39] to be able to go through the progressions and get and figure it out, you know. [5:43] And even in practice, even I don't take it lightly when I possibly could get hit [5:49] because I'm trying to improve the process and speed everything up, you know. [5:53] And it's extremely tough. [5:56] But it's definitely a challenge I look forward to every day going out there. [6:00] He also does. [6:08] Yeah. [6:09] I think that doesn't even faze me or get to me or I think about that at all. [6:16] You know, I'm just thankful to be out able to practice, you know. [6:20] So sometimes you got to sit back and reflect on why would I feel negative in this situation [6:27] if last year was a total different situation. [6:30] So I think about things that I'm thankful for in life and not that I really want. [6:36] If you live in that want world, then you're going to always be searching. [6:39] I'm not sure. [6:54] I just try to go about the process every day, make my decisions [6:59] and not really second guess or not. [7:05] And not really like I try to go through the process the right way [7:08] and try to do everything I'm trying to do. [7:10] So I think as long as that's at the forefront of the mind [7:16] and understanding situations, understanding down the distance, [7:20] understanding what's going on, [7:21] then you'll be able to know when it's time to force something [7:25] and when it's not time to. [7:27] So I know being on the field for me the longest, [7:32] I'm going to be able to get a feel. [7:35] So it's like why put yourself in a situation [7:37] where you could get taken off a field or anything. [7:41] So that's what I try to focus on. [7:43] And obviously it doesn't really happen like that. [7:45] Some things are tip picks. [7:46] Some things are like just things happen. [7:49] So it's kind of if I know last year within the season and everything, [7:54] I threw some picks, then it's like of course there's going to be a point, [7:58] an emphasis to be confident with every decision I make. [8:02] And that's just in life. [8:03] Any decision I make, I'm fine with it now. [8:05] I got to stand by it and life and football translate to each other. [8:10] So even now the decisions I make often feel like I got to stand on it, [8:14] I live by it, and, you know, I can't regret it. [8:16] No, I don't think with the coaches that we have you ever wonder. [8:47] I think whatever is said is direct. [8:49] But obviously it's like we was informed, you know, [8:53] and everything the right way. [8:54] So it was never a miscommunication between us, you know. [9:01] So I don't know. [9:04] I just don't really appreciate sometimes if things happen, [9:10] and if things happen and y'all just jump on the coast, [9:14] like he just tripping or something, you know. [9:16] I don't really like that because it creates just extra. [9:22] And I hope we're all here to want to win, you know, [9:24] and be a team and be a franchise. [9:27] So it's kind of like we got to slow down, you know, if that's what we want. [9:32] But if we just ain't here to just make money and get clicks, [9:35] then, you know, we understand that too. [9:37] So that's why I just appreciate the team. [9:40] I appreciate everybody that we don't let anything online or anything really get to us, [9:45] you know, because we're in our own cocoon. [9:47] We're a team. [9:48] So anything outside of that don't really affect us in the building. [9:52] It seems like since Todd got here, you've been saying things like that, you know, [9:57] whatever the coaches tell you guys you trust. [9:59] And you mentioned at the beginning of May Camp that he understood you very well. [10:03] How did he go about building that trust with you? [10:06] I would say by just letting everybody be theyself. [10:09] That's how he is overall. [10:12] He wants every player and everybody to be theyself and be able to – [10:17] because, you know, that's the best way that everybody will be able to produce [10:20] and be able to be there. [10:21] So I think that's what it is. [10:23] It's just everybody has freedom each and every day. [10:26] You could be how you want to be within the guidelines of the team. [10:30] And as long as you're not, like, disrespecting or doing anything negative, [10:33] then, you know, you kind of have, like, freedom. [10:35] Last one. [10:43] I don't know what ones and twos are, honestly. [10:47] I'm telling you. [10:47] Yeah, that's – [10:48] It switches every day. [10:50] So what's ones and what's twos? [10:51] It's just work. [10:52] What's work are we getting today? [10:54] More so to Denzel and KC, who's obviously – [11:02] what's your chemistry been like with them? [11:03] How have you kind of – [11:05] Yeah, I would say it's good. [11:07] I would say the chemistry is definitely growing with each rep that I take with anybody, [11:12] I would say. [11:15] Because football is just a bunch of different situations that, you know, [11:19] in practice you may hit on one time. [11:21] So, like, each day – that's why I say you're growing and building in different areas [11:26] because just because you practice is a bunch of different situations in practice. [11:30] So you look at things from different point of views, you know, [11:34] and it's way deeper than just – it's way deeper than just it's first and ten, [11:40] I'm going to throw a slant versus, like, it's third and short, you know, throwing a slant. [11:44] It's kind of like it's a big difference, you know, between it. [11:49] Because one, like, it's super on the line. [11:51] The other one, you know, you may not be as aggressive in. [11:54] So it's all about down the distance. [11:58] It's all about managing the game, time on the clock. [12:02] And I think that's where, as a team and everybody, [12:04] we're trying to get better at each and every day. [12:07] And being able to handle all the installs and everything that has put us on – [12:11] that's put on us is great. [12:14] And it's ups and downs. [12:15] It's strenuous sometimes. [12:16] It's not. [12:17] But it's good because that's how I said that I feel like the game, [12:21] when everything is more simplified, everything will be a lot more smoother within us. [12:26] Thank you. [12:27] Appreciate it. [12:28] Thank you.