Sanders makes preseason debut for Browns

Sanders gets the first look in a Browns preseason opener on the road in Charlotte.

Shedeur Sanders Starts for Browns in Preseason Against Panthers

Tonight the Browns travel to Charlotte to open their preseason with Shedeur Sanders at quarterback. The selection marks a major moment for the former Colorado star and the son of a Hall of Famer as Cleveland tests him in live action amid a crowded competition. Cleveland reportedly turned down trade offers for Sanders, underscoring the team view of this as a long term development process rather than a quick fix.

Carolina under coach Dave Canales aims to build on Bryce Young's late season surge and push toward the NFC South. The game will be shown on NFL Network and streamed on fubo, with local broadcasts in Cleveland and Charlotte. The matchup also carries symbolic weight for the Panthers as they mark the 10th anniversary of their Super Bowl 50 run while seeking sustained improvement this season.

A preseason game is not a verdict on a quarterback, but it creates a narrative that can shape a rookie’s early career. The spotlight on Sanders will test whether the hype is grounded in actual readiness or remains a storyline built on potential. Cleveland’s choice to start him now speaks to a longer view of player development rather than short term results.

The game also highlights a broader NFL pattern: teams use preseason to evaluate a crowded quarterback room and manage risk with veterans while giving newcomers a real chance to prove themselves. For Carolina, Bryce Young’s improvement is the counterweight to Sanders’s debut, offering two parallel arcs that could influence public reception long before Week 1.

Highlights

Time will reveal how far Sanders has come.