It's difficult to believe, but preseason Cleveland Browns football is here as the team takes on the Carolina Panthers Friday night on NFL Network at 7:00 PM. Prior to Wednesday's joint practice with the Panthers, head coach Kevin Stefanski said that, for the most part, they would be resting their starters during the preseason opener, which has been standard practice under his staff.
But even without many starters, there are still plenty of interesting story lines to follow as players on the bubble fight to prove they should make the 53-man roster. The most talked-about fifth-round quarterback of all time before taking a snap, Shedeur Sanders, is set to start the game and could get a large portion of the snaps.
Here are the players I think have something to prove and gain under the lights on Friday night in Carolina. Disclaimer, I know it’s just a preseason game and you don’t want to overreact but it’s still a chance for bubble and young players to show potential and earn roster spots.
Shedeur Sanders, QB
Due to injury, Shedeur Sanders has a big opportunity on Friday night with Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett unlikely to play in the game. Panthers head coach Dave Canales has said that he will play some of his starters, though not a ton, and Sanders has a chance to show he can compete with the best Carolina has to offer, even if it is brief.
So far, since arriving in Cleveland, Sanders has done everything right, outside of a couple of speeding tickets, and worked hard. The buzz has been that he has been behind Dillon Gabriel on the mental aspect, on the whiteboard, and in the classroom, but he's been putting in the work to close the gap.
Now he gets to go into a real game setting and show that he can command a huddle, communicate with his teammates, and run an offense efficiently. If he wants to climb up the depth chart and continue to get more and more opportunities, he has to make the most of this chance. The Browns are desperate to find an answer at quarterback, and if Sanders is going to be that, this is the first real test.