Browns Sanders shines in preseason debut

Sanders flashed potential with two touchdowns on 14-of-23 passing for 138 yards, a performance that fuels the Browns' evolving quarterback discussion.

Browns QB Shedeur Sanders shines in preseason debut

Cleveland turned to a young quarterback group for Friday night in Charlotte as injuries and depth questions reshaped the plan. Sanders completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Kaden Davis for a 7-yard score in the second quarter and then a 12-yard strike just before halftime to extend the drive. He ran the offense on 10 series, showing accuracy on the two scoring plays and a stretch of promising rhythm after an unsettled start.

The Browns used the game to gauge Sanders amid a reshuffled depth chart that included the addition of Tyler Huntley days before the trip. Joe Flacco remains the favorite for the season opener, and coach Kevin Stefanski insisted the results of one preseason game won’t settle the ongoing quarterback competition. Sanders acknowledged the uneven moments, including early overthrows, but said he felt ready to handle the moment and learned from the experience as Cleveland weighs its options with two weeks left in the preseason.

This performance matters less for the box score and more for whether Sanders can translate practice reps into efficient game rhythm. It offers a data point about poise under pressure and the ability to capitalize on a couple of chances. Yet the Browns face a delicate balance between developing a young quarterback and protecting a roster in flux, especially with injuries altering the usual pecking order.

If Sanders can sustain this level of accuracy and decision-making in upcoming outings, Cleveland gains a plausible internal option who could grow into a longer-term role behind a veteran starter. If not, the exercise becomes a reminder of how thin the depth chart is at a position that often decides a team’s ceiling. The next two preseason games will be telling for the path ahead and how much risk the organization is willing to assume to accelerate development.

Highlights

The preseason clock will keep ticking as Cleveland tests where Sanders fits in the longer arc of the season.