This one already hurts for Los Angeles Chargers fans.
The team signed running back Raheim Sanders as an undrafted free agent this offseason. After a few quality performances in the preseason, the South Carolina product quickly became a favorite among Chargers fans. He seemed to be the underdog story fans were looking for, an unheralded prospect making his mark at the highest level.
Unfortunately, LA didn't have a spot on their final roster for him. The team waived him, and the Cleveland Browns were quick to scoop him up, and now he's already making an impact with his new team.
Chargers fan favorite hits the ground running with his new team
The Chargers might have saved the Browns from their shaky running back situation by letting Sanders go. Cleveland spent a second-round draft pick on Ohio State product Quinshon Judkins to solidify the position. Months later, Judkins still hasn't fully joined the team due to an offseason arrest.
The unexpected vacancy at the position is just what Sanders needed to get his NFL career off the ground. Without Judkins in the picture, he's getting some important reps in Cleveland's first game of the season.
Early in the second quarter of the Browns' opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, the young running back made one of the most impactful plays of the day. He carried the ball into the endzone for the first touchdown of his career. The one-yard run showed off the rookie's explosiveness and underrated vision.
The score tied the game up at seven points apiece, giving the Browns a real chance to pull off a massive upset against their division rivals.
Once Judkins gets up to speed, Sanders will likely be the fourth running back on Cleveland's depth chart. He may not get many more opportunities this season, especially in the red zone. Still, the touchdown could help to solidify his spot on the roster moving forward. If nothing else, it may earn him a little trust from his new coaching staff.
The Chargers shouldn't be feeling too down after their Week 1 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil. Omarion Hampton looks like the future of LA's rushing attack, and Justin Herbert played at an MVP level in the opener.
Still, it would be nice to have a player like Sanders in the building. Instead, Chargers fans will have to settle for watching him succeed elsewhere.