Browns' Shedeur Sanders seizes spotlight with two-touchdown preseason debut vs. Panthers

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There are currently six quarterbacks on the Cleveland Browns roster.

Taking centerstage Friday night was arguably the most high-profile of the bunch, rookie Shedeur Sanders.

Sanders, a 2025 fifth-round pick, seized the moment, his confidence building throughout against the Carolina Panthers as he threw for a pair of touchdowns, completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and scrambled for 19 more. He left the game in the third quarter with Cleveland leading, 21-7.

Of the half-dozen Browns QBs, only Sanders and the recently acquired Tyler Huntley were in line to play Friday. Third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett are currently nursing hamstring injuries, Joe Flacco — the favorite to be the starter — sat and Deshaun Watson is on the physically unable to perform list with a torn Achilles tendon.

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Thus, Sanders got the start and plenty of run, playing into the second half in a game that began against a claw of Panthers defensive starters.

The Colorado product and son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders got off to a slow start with a three-and-out on the opening drive of what was one of the more anticipated preseason games in some time.

Thereafter, Sanders began to settle in. He showed some poise, made some nice, accurate throws and scrambled well — and clutch. For his critics, of which there are many, his arm strength did look a bit lacking at times and his tendency to hold onto the ball too long was present, but on those same plays, so too was a no-quit mentality.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski had him playing under center and out of shotgun with Sanders finding success on the run, standing up to a rush and performing well in different situations.

After airmailing a third-down attempt, Sanders and Cleveland got a big break on a Panthers muffed punt. Sanders, as he really did most of the night, seized the moment. Rolling to his left, Sanders pinpointed a 7-yard touchdown to Kaden Davis through and over double coverage on the first play of the second quarter.

Sanders connected with Davis for another score, this time on a 12-yard toss that was low and on the money with 1:58 to go in the opening half.

Sanders capped his night by leading a third TD drive in the third quarter.

With all eyes on him, the former Buffaloes standout performed well, even drawing praise from Cleveland product and future NBA Hall of Famer Lebron James.

And I don’t wanna hear that “It’s only preseason” bs. Cause if he was out there not going in y’all would be on his ass about it! So give credit and grace lames. ‍♂️

— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 9, 2025

It’s unlikely Sanders will get as much playing time in future preseason outings with Pickett and Gabriel coming back from injuries. Thus, who knows what it will do for the Browns’ evolving QB depth chart, but one would be hard-pressed to think Sanders didn’t better his standing.

If nothing more, in his preseason debut Friday, Sanders looked like a professional quarterback.

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