While Shedeur Sanders was making his NFL debut Sunday, his home was broken into.
According to a Medina County Sheriff’s Office news release, three suspects broke into the rookie quarterback’s home during the Cleveland Browns’ 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at Huntington Bank Field. Per the police, approximately $200,000 in property was stolen.
Police said surveillance footage shows the three suspects, who were wearing masks and gloves, entering Sanders’ home around 6:46 p.m. local time. They left about 12 minutes later, “with various property belonging to Mr. Sanders.”
Per the police report, the footage showed the masked individuals walking out of a tree line, entering the home through an unlocked door and later, leaving with several bags and items. The footage, according to police, shows suspects exiting the same way they came in, fleeing back into the woods at 6:58 p.m.
A manager for Sanders told a deputy that Sanders is a professional athlete and that they hoped to keep the incident out of the media. The deputy went inside the home to speak directly with Sanders.
Sanders’ home is about 30 miles southwest of Cleveland and about 20 miles south of the team’s training facility.
Sanders, 23, was drafted out of Colorado in the fifth round with the 144th pick, two rounds after the Browns selected Dillon Gabriel. In the offseason, Sanders told reporters he was “not trying to buy (any property); my signing bonus is not that hot right now.”
The reported break-in at Sanders’ residence is the latest example of a high-profile athlete’s property being targeted by thieves while they are scheduled to be playing. Targeted stars include Luka Dončić while he was playing in Dallas, the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow, and the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Sanders’ debut came during the Browns’ first drive of the second half, with Cleveland leading 16-10 after Gabriel was ruled out with a concussion. The rookie completed 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and threw one interception. The Browns crossed midfield just once after halftime.
“I don’t think I played good,” Sanders said after the loss. “I don’t think I played good at all.”
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Sanders will start Cleveland’s Week 12 game against the Las Vegas Raiders if Gabriel does not clear the league’s concussion protocol.