The Big Dumper dinger tracker has hit another massive milestone.

Cal Raleigh set the MLB single-season record for most home runs by a catcher after hitting his league-leading 48th and 49th home runs of 2025 in the Seattle Mariners’ 11-4 win over the Athletics at T-Mobile Park on Sunday, Aug. 24.

The previous single-season mark for catchers had been owned by Salvador Perez, who mashed 48 home runs for the Kansas City Royals in 2021.

Raleigh tied Perez with a first-inning 448-foot blast off of Athletics lefty Jacob Lopez that was Big Dumper’s longest home run of the season and furthest of his career while batting from the right side of the plate. An inning later, Raleigh set the record for catchers with another homer off Lopez.

The Big Dumper’s dingers were also vital to the Mariners’ quest to win the AL West, as the victory moved Seattle to within two games of first place in the division behind the Houston Astros, who were defeated by the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.

Next possible home run milestones for Cal Raleigh

Raleigh — the 2025 Home Run Derby winner — is within striking distance of the single-season record for most home runs hit by a switch hitter.

Mickey Mantle set that standard with 54 home runs during the 1961 season; the same year his New York Yankees teammate Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record.

Raleigh also is seven home runs away from matching Ken Griffey Jr.’s Mariners record — which he set twice — by hitting 56 home runs in 1997 and 1998.

Who are the MLB home run leaders for 2025?

1. Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners – 49
2 (tie). Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers – 45
2 (tie). Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies – 45
4 (tie). Aaron Judge, New York Yankees – 40
4 (tie). Eugenio Suárez, Seattle Mariners – 40

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

The Cleveland Browns made another decision in their crowded quarterback room.

The franchise is releasing veteran Tyler Huntley in the first wave of roster changes after the final preseason game. Cleveland signed the former Pro Bowler on Aug. 4 as injuries piled up among their quarterbacks.

Huntley, 27, spent the 2024 NFL season with the Miami Dolphins and went 2-3 as a starter in place of the injured Tua Tagovailoa. In those five games, Huntely completed 86 of 133 passes for 829 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. He had another two touchdowns on the ground.

Huntley attempted at least one pass in all three of the Browns’ preseason games:

at Carolina Panthers (Aug. 8): 6 of 8 passing, 51 yards, one touchdown
at Philadelphia Eagles (Aug. 16): 10 of 13 passing, 71 yards
vs. Los Angeles Rams (Aug. 23): 1 of 1 passing, seven yards

Even with Huntley’s release, there are still plenty of options for the Browns at quarterback this season. Here’s what to know.

Browns QB depth chart

Cleveland named veteran Joe Flacco the starter for Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The 40-year-old played in the preseason finale and completed 9 of 10 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown.

Here’s the rest of the depth chart ahead of final roster cuts on Tuesday, Aug. 26:

Joe Flacco
Kenny Pickett
Dillon Gabriel
Shedeur Sanders
Deshaun Watson*

*=Watson is on the injury report following his Achilles injury last season.

William Byron and Kyle Larson are the top seeds entering the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
The 10-race playoffs begin at Darlington Raceway on Aug. 31.
The final four drivers will compete for the 2025 championship at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 2.

The NASCAR Cup Series playoff field has emerged, and the stage is set for a 10-race chase to the championship.

Following 26 regular-season races, 16 drivers advanced to the playoffs, and now they get set to race against each other with one goal in mind: raising the championship trophy at the season finale at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 4.

William Byron, the 2025 regular-season champion, and Kyle Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, enter the playoffs as the top seeds. They will be joined by two other Hendrick Motorsports teammates: Chase Elliott, the 2020 series champion, and Alex Bowman, the last driver to make the 2025 playoff field.

Team Penske returns three drivers to the 2025 postseason, including three-time and reigning champion Joey Logano, 2023 champion Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric. Joe Gibbs Racing, which is seeking its first championship since 2019, also advanced three drivers to the playoffs: Denny Hamlin, whose four wins in 2025 tied for the most this season, Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe.

Trackhouse Racing put road course ace Shane van Gisbergen, a four-time winner in 2025, into the playoffs as a rookie, along with veteran Ross Chastain, the 2022 Cup Series runner-up. Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick will represent 23XI Racing, the team co-owned by Hamlin and Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, in the playoffs, while Josh Berry of Wood Brothers Racing, and Austin Dillon of Richard Childress Racing also hope to make a charge.

The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin with a primetime race at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 31. Here’s all the information you need to get ready for the postseason:

NASCAR Cup Series playoff drivers

Here are the 16 drivers that are competing in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs (in order of ranking entering playoffs):

Kyle Larson

Age: 33
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Car: No. 5 Chevrolet

William Byron

Age: 27
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Car: No. 24 Chevrolet

Denny Hamlin

Age: 44
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Car: No. 11 Toyotqa

Ryan Blaney

Age: 31
Team: Team Penske
Car: No. 12 Ford

Christopher Bell

Age: 30
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Car: No. 20 Toyota

Shane van Gisbergen

Age: 36
Team: Trackhouse Racing
Car: No. 88 Chervolet

Chase Elliott

Age: 29
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Car: No. 9 Chevrolet

Chase Briscoe

Age: 30
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Car: 19 Toyota

Bubba Wallace

Age: 31
Team: 23XI Racing
Car: No. 23 Toyota

Austin Cindric

Age: 26
Team: Team Penske
Car: No. 2 Ford

Ross Chastain

Age: 32
Team: Trackhouse Racing
Car: No. 1 Chevrolet

Joey Logano

Age: 35
Team: Team Penske
Car: No. 22 Ford

Josh Berry

Age: 34
Team: Wood Brothers Racing
Car: No. 21 Ford

Tyler Reddick

Age: 29
Team: 23XI Racing
Car: No. 45 Toyota

Austin Dillon

Age: 35
Team: Richard Childress Racing
Car: No. 3 Chevrolet

Alex Bowman

Age: 32
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Car: No. 48 Chevrolet

NASCAR driver playoffs standings

Here are the reset points entering first race of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at Darlington Raceway (Number of wins in parentheses):

Kyle Larson (3) ….. 2032
William Byron (2) ….. 2032
Denny Hamlin (4) ….. 2029
Ryan Blaney (2) ….. 2026
Christopher Bell (3) ….. 2023
Shane van Gisbergen (4) ….. 2022
Chase Elliott (1) ….. 2013
Chase Briscoe (1) ….. 2010
Bubba Wallace (1) ….. 2008
Austin Cindric (1) ….. 2008
Ross Chastain (1) ….. 2007
Joey Logano (1) ….. 2007
Josh Berry (1) ….. 2006
Tyler Reddick (0) ….. 2006
Austin Dillon (1) ….. 2005
Alex Bowman (0) ….. 2002

NASCAR playoff races: Dates, tracks, how to watch

Here are the 10 races that make up the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, with dates, times, TV channel, streaming options, location and 2024 winner:

Race No. 1 at Darlington Raceway

Race: Cook Out Southern 500
Date: Sunday, Aug. 31
Time: 6 p.m. ET
TV channel: USA Network
Streaming: Peacock, HBO Max and Fubo (free trial)
Location: Darlington, South Carolina
2024 winner: Chase Briscoe

Race No. 2 at World Wide Technology Raceway

Race: Enjoy Illinois 300
Date: Sunday, Sept. 7
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV channel: USA Network
Streaming: Peacock, HBO Max and Fubo (free trial)
Location: Madison, Illinois
2024 winner: Austin Cindric

Race No. 3 at Bristol Motor Speedway

Race: Bass Pro Shops Night Race
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: USA Network
Streaming: Peacock, HBO Max and Fubo (free trial)
Location: Bristol, Tennessee
2024 winner: Kyle Larson

Note: Three drivers eliminated from playoff contention after Bristol Night race.

Race No. 4 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Race: TBA playoff race
Date: Sunday, Sept. 21
Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV channel: USA Network
Streaming: Peacock, HBO Max and Fubo (free trial)
Location: Loudon, New Hampshire
2024 winner: Christopher Bell

Race No. 5 at Kansas Speedway

Race: Hollywood Casino 400
Date: Sunday, Sept. 28
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV channel: USA Network
Streaming: Peacock, HBO Max and Fubo (free trial)
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
2024 winner: Ross Chastain

Race No. 6 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

This race will be run on the Roval: part road course, part oval circuit

Race: Bank of America ROVAL 400
Date: Sunday, Oct. 5
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV channel: USA Network
Streaming: Peacock, HBO Max and Fubo (free trial)
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
2024 winner: Kyle Larson

Note: Three drivers eliminated from playoff contention after Roval race.

Race No. 7 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Race: South Point 400
Date: Sunday, Oct. 12
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: USA Network
Streaming: Peacock, HBO Max and Fubo (free trial)
Location: Las Vegas
2024 winner: Joey Logano

Race No. 8 at Talladega Superspeedway

Race: YellaWood 500
Date: Sunday, Oct. 19
Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV channel: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, HBO Max and Fubo (free trial)
Location: Talladega, Alabama
2024 winner: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Race No. 9 at Martinsville Speedway

Race: Xfinity 500
Date: Sunday, Oct. 26
Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV channel: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, HBO Max and Fubo (free trial)
Location: Martinsville, Virginia
2024 winner: Ryan Blaney

Note: Three drivers eliminated from playoff contention after Martinsville race.

Race No. 10 at Phoenix Raceway

Final four drivers will race for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship

Race: NASCAR Championship Race
Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV channel: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, HBO Max and Fubo (free trial)
Location: Avondale, Arizona
2024 winner: Joey Logano

For the second time this offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles have traded for another quarterback with NFL starting experience.

In March, the Eagles received Dorian Thompson-Robinson in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. On Sunday, Philadelphia is acquiring Minnesota Vikings backup quarterback Sam Howell – as well as a 2026 sixth-round pick – in a trade.

The Vikings will receive a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick in return.

Howell played in each of Minnesota’s first two preseason games but spent the Vikings’ preseason finale on the bench. He finished the preseason 12-of-18 (66.7%) on pass attempts for 118 yards, zero touchdowns and an interception.

The news of the trade for Howell came minutes before reports that the Vikings had agreed to terms with free agent quarterback – and former Eagle – Carson Wentz.

The former Washington Commanders starter now joins an Eagles quarterbacks room that already includes Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Thompson-Robinson and rookie Kyle McCord.

Sam Howell trade details: Full returns for Eagles, Vikings

Eagles receive: QB Sam Howell, 2026 sixth-round pick
Vikings receive: 2026 fifth-round pick, 2027 seventh-round pick

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman swung a trade for another backup quarterback Sunday morning. McKee, Philadelphia’s current backup, was held out of his team’s final two preseason games with a finger injury and could miss Week 1.

Howell provides extra insurance behind Hurts and in front of McCord, who appears to have won the No. 3 spot on the depth chart over Thompson-Robinson.

In return, the Vikings received some improved draft capital, essentially swapping a sixth-rounder next year for a fifth. Rookie undrafted free agent Max Brosmer had performed well enough to earn consideration as the team’s No. 3 quarterback, and Minnesota’s signing of Wentz made Howell expendable.

Minnesota has been looking to add help at the wide receiver position, according to reports, including the possibility of a reunion with veteran receiver Adam Thielen in a trade with the Carolina Panthers. The Vikings’ acquisition of a higher draft pick in the Howell trade could present a better bargaining chip for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to work with.

Sam Howell stats

Howell is entering his fourth NFL season in 2025. He began his career with the Commanders and started all 17 games for the team in 2023 before playing out the 2024 season as a backup for the Seattle Seahawks.

Here’s how his career looks so far, by the numbers:

Record (as starter): 5-13
Completion rate: 399-of-631 (63.2%)
Passing yards: 4,139
Touchdowns: 22
Interceptions: 23
Passer rating: 77.5
Rushing: 300 yards on 54 attempts (5.6 yards per carry)

Howell’s 21 interceptions in 2023 led the NFL and helped pave the way for the Commanders to draft his replacement, Jayden Daniels, with the second overall pick in last year’s draft.

Men’s and women’s singles action at the 2025 US Open kicked off on Sunday, Aug. 24.
Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Arnya Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula were among the top stars to play first-round matches on opening day.

Novak Djokovic continues his quest for another US Open title following an opening night victory over 19-year-old American Learner Tien on Sunday, Aug. 24.

Djokovic, who is the No. 7 seed in the tournament, appeared to be in some pain during the match. As he was being looked at by an athletic trainer during a break between sets, ESPN’s camera zoomed in during the broadcast on what appeared to be a blister on his toe.

Djokovic improved to 19-0 in first-round matches at the event. He won the event on four different occasions, with the latest coming in 2023. Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam titles in his legendary career, and another championship in New York would set the all-time tennis record for men or women.

Djokovic will take on Zachary Svajda of the United States in the second round on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Svajda earned a convincing victory over Zsombor Piros.

American Ben Shelton also cruised on to the second round after picking up a victory over Ignacio Buse.

Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka swept Rebeka Masarova in the first round of women’s singles. She will play Polina Kudermetova on Wednesday. Kudermetova beat Nuria Parrizas Diaz in what ended up being a quick first-round match. Parrizas-Diaz pulled out of the match after she fell and twisted her ankle.

USA TODAY has everything you need to know about the US Open Day 1 action and a look ahead at the Day 2 order of play for Monday, Aug. 25:

2025 US Open Day 1 results for Sunday

Men’s singles

No. 7 Novak Djokovic def. Learner Tien 6-1, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
No. 30 Brandon Nakashima def. Jesper De Jong 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (10-7)
Marcos Giron def. Mariano Navone 6-0, 7-5, 4-6, 5-7, 6-4
Benjamin Bonzi def. No. 13 Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 0-6, 6-4
No. 4 Taylor Fritz def. Emilio Nava 7-5, 6-2, 6-3
No. 6 Ben Shelton def. Ignacio Buse 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
No. 16 Jakub Mensik def. Nicolas Jarry 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-4
No. 18 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina def. Alexander Shevchenko 6-1, 6-1, 6-2
No. 20 Jiri Lehecka def. Borna Coric 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
No. 21 Tomas Machac def. Luca Nardi 6-3, 6-1, 6-1
Adrian Mannarino def. No. 29 Tallon Griekspoor 7-5, 6-4, 6-0
No. 32 Luciano Darderi def. Rinky Hijikata 6-2, 6-1, 6-2
Jordan Thompson def. Corentin Moutet 6-2, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Tomas Martin Etcheverry def. Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-0
Pablo Carreno Busta def. Pablo Llamas Ruiz 7-6 (9-7), 6-4, 6-2
Jerome Kym def. Ethan Quinn 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5)
Zachary Svajda def. Zsombor Piros 6-4, 6-2, 7-5
Eliot Spizzirri def. Stefan Dostanic 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
Ugo Blanchet def. Fabian Marozsan 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2
Arthur Rinderknech def. Roberto Carballes Baena 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, 4-6, 6-2

Women’s singles

No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka def. Rebeka Masarova 7-5, 6-1
No. 4 Jessica Pegula def. Mayar Sherif 6-0, 6-4
No. 7 Jamine Paolini def. Destanee Aiava 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
No. 10 Emma Navarro def. Wang Yafan 7-6 (11-9), 6-3
Alexandra Eala def. No. 14 Clara Tauson 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11)
No. 16 Belinda Bencic def. Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-3
Janice Tjen def. No. 24 Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko def. Wang Xiyu 6-4, 6-3
No. 31 Leylah Fernandez def. Rebecca Marino 6-2, 6-1
No. 32 McCartney Kessler def. Magda Linette 7-5, 7-5
Anna Blinkova def. Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 6-1
Anastasia Potapova def. Zhu Lin 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Lulu Sun def. Camila Osorio 6-4, 2-6, 6-0
Catherine McNally def. Jil Teichmann 6-2, 6-2
Moyuka Uchijima def. Olga Danilovic 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 7-6 (11-9)
Marketa Vondrousova def. Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
Emma Raducanu def. Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2
Polina Kudermetova def. Nuria Parrizas-Diaz 2-2 (retired)
Tereza Valentova def. Lucia Bronzetti 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Victoria Azarenka def. Hina Inoue 7-6 (7-0), 6-4

US Open Day 2 schedule: Ranked players in action Monday

* All Times Eastern

Women’s singles

No. 5 Mirra Andreeva vs. Alycia Parks, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Madison Keys vs. Renata Zarazua, 11:30 a.m.
No. 9 Elena Rybakina vs. Julieta Pareja, 11 a.m.
No. 11 Karolina Muchova vs. Venus Williams, 7 p.m.
No. 12 Elina Svitolina vs. Anna Bondar, TBA
No. 15 Daria Kasatkina vs. Elena-Gabriela Ruse, TBA
No. 17 Liudmila Samsonova vs. Yue Yuan, 11 a.m.
No. 19 Elise Mertens vs. Alyssa Ahn, 11 a.m.
No. 22 Victoria Mboko vs. Barbora Krejcikova, 11 a.m.
No. 28 Magdalena Frech vs. Talia Gibson, TBA
 No. 29 Anna Kalinskaya vs. Clervie Ngounoue, 11 a.m.
No. 30 Dayana Yastremska vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 11 a.m.

Men’s singles

No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz vs. Reilly Opelka 7 p.m.
No. 5 Jack Draper vs. Federico Agustin Gomez, 11 a.m.
No. 9 Karen Khachanov vs. Nishesh Basavareddy, TBA
No. 11 Holger Rune vs. Botic van de Zandschulp, TBA
No. 12 Casper Ruud vs. Sebastian Ofner, 7 p.m.
No. 15 Andrey Rublev vs. Dino Prizmic, TBA
No. 17 Frances Tiafoe vs. Yoshihito Nishioka, 11:30 a.m.
No. 22 Ugo Humbert vs. Adam Walton, 11 a.m.
No. 24 Flavio Coblli vs. Francesco Passaro, TBA
No. 28 Alex Michelsen vs. Francisco Comesana, 11 a.m.
No. 31 Gabriel Diallo vs. Damir Dzumhur, TBA

How to watch 2025 US Open: Dates, TV, streaming

Dates: Sunday, Aug. 24-Sunday, Sept. 7
Location: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (New York)
TV channels: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes (Spanish language)
Streaming: ESPN+ and Fubo (free trial)

2025 US Open key dates

Men’s and women’s singles competition: Monday, Aug. 24 through Sunday, Sept. 7
Doubles and mixed doubles competition: Begins Monday, Aug. 18, through Saturday, Sept. 6
Mixed doubles final: Wednesday, Aug. 20
Women’s doubles final: Friday, Sept. 5
Men’s doubles final: Saturday, Sept. 6
Women’s singles final: Saturday, Sept. 6
Men’s singles final: Sunday, Sept. 7

The US Open takes center stage as the final Grand Slam tournament of the 2025 tennis season gets underway at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

All the big stars in men’s and women’s tennis are on hand, hoping to win one of the biggest prizes in sports at the end of the two-week tournament.

The women’s draw features a bevy of stars, including No. 1 seed and reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek, the 2022 champion who reached the US Open mixed doubles final last week. Five American women are seeded in the top 10, including No. 3 seed Coco Gauff, the reigning French Open champion; No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula, who reached the final of the US Open last year; and No. 6 seed Madison Keys, who won the 2025 Australian Open in January.

The competition is just as fierce on the men’s side, headlined by the top two players in the world: No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner, the defending US Open champion, and No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz, who won the title in 2022. No. 7 seed Novak Djokovic aims for his fifth US Open title and a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam championship. American men also figure to be among the biggest contenders, including No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz, the 2024 US Open runner-up, and No. 6 seed Ben Shelton.

Here are the current odds to win the men’s and women’s singles title and how to watch 2025 US Open (as of Sunday, Aug. 24, according to BetMGM):

How to watch 2025 US Open: Dates, TV, streaming

Dates: Sunday, Aug. 24-Sunday, Sept. 7
Location: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (New York)
TV channels: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes (Spanish language)
Streaming: ESPN+ and Fubo (free trial)

Odds to win 2025 US Open women’s singles title

(via BetMGM as of Sunday, Aug. 24)

Iga Swiatek +250
Aryna Sabalenka +300
Coco Gauff +900
Elena Rybakina +1000
Mirra Andreeva +1200
Madison Keys +1800
Victoria Mboko +2000
Naomi Osaka +2000
Emma Raducanu +2500
Amanda Anisimova +2500
Jessica Pegula +3300
Jasmine Paolini +4000

Odds to win 2025 US Open men’s singles title

(via BetMGM as of Sunday, Aug. 24)

Jannik Sinner +110
Carlos Alcaraz +170
Novak Djokovic +1200
Alexander Zverev +1800
Ben Shelton +1800
Jack Draper +2000
Taylor Fritz +2800
Daniil Medvedev +4000
Alex de Minaur +6600
Holger Rune +6600

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released rookie safety Shilo Sanders as NFL teams were required to cut their preseason rosters to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday Aug. 26, according to various reports.

The move comes after Sanders was ejected from Tampa’s final preseason game Saturday Aug. 23 for throwing a punch against Buffalo Bills tight end Zach Davidson in the second quarter.

‘You can’t throw punches in this league,’ Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said after the game Saturday. ‘I mean, that’s inexcusable. They’re going to get you every time. Gotta grow from that.’

Sanders, 25, didn’t get selected in the NFL draft in April but signed with the team as an undrafted free agent soon afterward. He was listed as a third-string safety before Saturday’s preseason game.

But his NFL hopes are still alive. He could get signed to the team’s practice squad Wednesday. Or he could catch on with another team that’s a better fit.

Sanders is the middle son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders, whose youngest son, Shedeur, a quarterback, was picked in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns.

Both played for their father at Jackson State and Colorado, where they led the Buffaloes to a 9-4 season last year.

In Shilo’s case, he became known as a hard-hitting ballhawk with lots of college experience. He led the team in tackles in 2023 (70) and was their third-leading tackler last year (67) despite missing three games in 2024 with a broken forearm.

He started his college career at South Carolina in 2019 and 2020, before playing two years at Jackson State and another two at Colorado in 2023 and 2024.

Off the field, his attorneys have been trying to get him out of more than $11 million in debt after he filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2023. The debt stems from an incident at his school in Dallas in 2015, which led to a lawsuit and a default judgment against him of $11.89 million, all owed to a former security guard at his school, John Darjean. Darjean said Shilo punched him and threw a roundhouse elbow at him, leading to permament injuries. Shilo Sanders claimed it was self-defense.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com