NFL Debut for Shedeur Sanders: First Touchdown Pass Thrown in Preseason Game Against Panthers
In the heart of the NFL preseason, the Cleveland Browns are embroiled in a fierce quarterback competition, with Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco, and Kenny Pickett all vying for the starting role. Deshaun Watson is currently sidelined due to injury.
Shedeur Sanders, the rookie quarterback and son of legendary coach Deion Sanders, made a strong impression in his Week 1 preseason start against the Carolina Panthers. Completing 14 of 23 passes, he scored two touchdowns without any interceptions, demonstrating improved decision-making and mobility. This performance was particularly noteworthy given the injuries to Pickett and Gabriel that opened up the starting opportunity for Sanders.
In training camp practices, Sanders has been consistent, maintaining zero interceptions and multiple touchdowns in drills. However, the Browns' coaching staff has emphasised that no official starting quarterback will be named until after the second preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Joe Flacco, the veteran and former Super Bowl champion, has been taking early first-team reps during camp. He has been efficient in practice, throwing with accuracy and scoring one touchdown on 7 completions out of 11 attempts, without any interceptions. Reports suggest that Flacco is favoured to win the starting job for the regular season opener due to his experience and reliability.
Kenny Pickett has been hampered by a hamstring injury throughout training camp, limiting his ability to compete live. Despite this, he has shown efficiency in practice, with three touchdowns and no interceptions on a small number of attempts. His health status will be crucial for his chances.
Dillon Gabriel, a third-round pick, has also been affected by a hamstring injury, delaying his preseason action. In limited camp reps, he has shown good production, scoring three touchdowns without any turnovers. He is projected to compete strongly if he can overcome his injury.
The Browns' quarterback competition has been a significant storyline of training camp, with coach Kevin Stefanski planning to continue evaluating all four quarterbacks in various situations. Despite Sanders' exciting debut, it is seen as unlikely that he will start as a rookie immediately given the Browns' tough early-season schedule and the presence of experienced veterans like Flacco and Pickett.
The Browns drafted Dillon Gabriel with the No. 94 overall pick and picked Sanders two rounds later. Sanders found wide receiver Kaden Davis in the back of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown during the preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, marking his first touchdown pass in his NFL career. This debut was one of the most anticipated of any member of Sanders' rookie class.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski expects Sanders to play approximately 50 snaps against Carolina. He aims to decide on a starter "sooner rather than later" for the Week 1 showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. The Browns' quarterback competition is tightly contested, but currently leans towards Joe Flacco starting Week 1, with Sanders as a strong emerging candidate if he continues his trajectory, while Pickett and Gabriel must overcome injuries to fully join the battle.
Shedeur Sanders, the son of legendary coach Deion Sanders, made a strong impression in his NFL debut, scoring two touchdowns without any interceptions in the preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. This performance was noteworthy given the injuries to Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel, which opened up the starting opportunity for him.
The Cleveland Browns' quarterback competition has been a significant storyline during training camp, with Joe Flacco, the veteran and former Super Bowl champion, favoured to win the starting job for the regular season opener due to his experience and reliability.
Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel both suffered hamstring injuries, limiting their ability to compete live during training camp. Despite these setbacks, they have shown efficiency in practice, with Pickett scoring three touchdowns and Gabriel scoring three touchdowns without any turnovers in limited camp reps.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski plans to continue evaluating all four quarterbacks in various situations and aims to decide on a starter for the Week 1 showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals soon rather than later.
The NFL preseason game between the Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles will be crucial for the Browns' quarterback competition, as no official starting quarterback will be named until after this game.
