The Cleveland Browns saw rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders make his first start during the team's preseason opener. He took advantage of the start and looked the part of a legitimate NFL quarterback.
Heading into the game, Sanders had been widely viewed as the No. 4 quarterback on the roster. Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel had all been playing above him during training camp. Did that change after his impressive performance?
Sanders completed 14 of his 23 pass attempts for 138 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in the preseason matchup with the Carolina Panthers, while also running for 19 yards on four attempts.
Despite an impressive showing, there is an uphill battle ahead of Sanders to earn a starting role. He certainly improved his chances with the big preseason game, but a team insider has spoken out with a blunt reality for him.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com provided a bluntly honest look at where things stand for Sanders.
"The truth is, while the start was exciting and promising, Sanders is likely still a longshot to beat out Joe Flacco and win the starting job out of the gate," Cabot said. "Granted, he brought the juice and gave the Browns a much-needed spark, but he still has a long way to go before he can go head-to-head with Burrow in the opener and then venture into M&T Bank Stadium against the Ravens' vaunted defense and play as fast as he'd need to."
Basically, Sanders had a good game but that was as far as it went. He's still not viewed as a legitimate starting caliber quarterback in Cleveland.
Flacco has been the likely Week 1 starter since he signed with the Browns. That seems to be nearly locked in. Sanders never had much of a chance to be that guy for Cleveland.
That being said, he's working hard and fighting for a chance to take over from Flacco as the starter at some point during the year. After showing off an impressive skill-set on Friday night, he should be viewed as a serious candidate to do just that.
Since falling in the 2025 NFL Draft to the fifth round, Sanders has been discounted by the media. He was projected to be a first or second round pick for a reason. The talent is there for him to be a very special player in the NFL.
With two more preseason games remaining on the schedule, Sanders will have more opportunities to prove that he's legit. If he can continue playing the way he showed against Carolina, the hype will continue rising about him being the Browns' starter at some point this season.
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