Football preseason contest degenerates into chaotic brawl, resulting in two participants being ejected and one losing his helmet in the process
In a surprising turn of events during the 2025 preseason game between the Cleveland Browns and the Carolina Panthers, a brawl erupted in the first quarter. The altercation, which involved second-year receiver Xavier Legette from the Carolina Panthers and nine-year veteran Rayshawn Jenkins from the Cleveland Browns, took place during the second offensive drive of the game and resulted in both players' ejection.
The fight between Legette and Jenkins started after a special teams play, with Legette throwing multiple closed-fist punches at Jenkins following a block that escalated into a physical confrontation. Jenkins responded by grabbing Legette's helmet and eventually ripping it off, intensifying the altercation.
The tension between the players stemmed partly from an ongoing physicality between them and possibly prior incidents during joint practice sessions. In fact, earlier in the week, Jenkins was seen throwing a football at a different Panthers player, Choua Hubard, which may have contributed to the bad blood.
Legette publicly apologised to Panthers fans for the incident, acknowledging it should not happen again. Both players’ ejections were significant early blows for their teams, especially for Legette, who was expected to start as a key wide receiver for Carolina.
Meanwhile, the Browns' debut game saw Shedeur Sanders, the son of Deion Sanders, take the field. Despite early jitters, Sanders managed to throw two touchdowns, leading the Browns to a 30-10 victory. His performance was significant, as he completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards before being replaced in the third quarter.
After the game, Legette addressed the brawl on his social media accounts, expressing regret for his actions. The incident was a disappointing note in what was otherwise a well-attended debut game for Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns.
The brawl between Xavier Legette and Rayshawn Jenkins during the 2025 preseason game was not just a fight about football, as their past encounters and Legette's actions towards Choua Hubard indicated a history of tension between them. Despite the incident, American football fans eagerly watched the debut game of Shedeur Sanders, the son of Deion Sanders, in the NFL.
