by: Grant Grubbs 13 minutes ago grant_grubbs_
Shedeur Sanders made quite an entrance at Bank of America Stadium for his NFL preseason debut. Ahead of the game, Sanders walked into the underbelly of the venue with a massive chain around his neck. Meanwhile, his friend blasted music through a speaker behind him while appearing to be holding a scythe.
Evidently, Sanders is ready to be the Panthers’ grim reaper. Sanders is expected to start for the Browns despite being listed as the team’s fourth option at quarterback on the depth chart.
Sanders was shoved into the preseason starting slot after quarterbacks Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel each suffered injuries in training camp. The Browns don’t plan on playing their QB1, Joe Flacco , on Friday evening.
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The Browns signed free agent quarterback Tyler Huntley earlier this week. He will serve as Sanders’ backup against the Panthers.
While Sanders looks confident ahead of his preseason debut, others are concerned the former Colorado standout isn’t prepared. ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi previously reported Sanders isn’t receiving any first-team reps at practice and has even been forced to throw against equipment staff members. On Tuesday, First Take host Stephen A. Smith claimed the Browns aren’t doing Sanders any favors.
“He’s being set up to fail,” Smith said. “There’s been 11 practices, if I remember correctly. He’s been playing against the third unit. He’s fourth on the depth chart, and then suddenly you throw him into the starting lineup, and he hasn’t had any reps with the first team at all. Think about that.