Shedeur Sanders made a strong impression in his NFL debut as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback. The rookie threw two touchdown passes and completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards, showcasing his ability to find rhythm quickly.
Sanders’ first touchdown was on a 7-yard pass to wide receiver Kaden Davis in the second quarter, with his father Deion Sanders celebrating on social media. He added another touchdown from 12 yards late in the half.
Despite playing with mostly second- and third-string players, Sanders demonstrated his potential as a quarterback. His coach Kevin Stefanski praised his performance, saying he was pleased but also had areas for improvement.
Sanders, who was considered one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL draft, was drafted in the fifth round by the Browns. He has been working behind veteran QBs Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett during training camp, but saw an opportunity to start after both were sidelined due to hamstring injuries.
Coach Stefanski remains noncommittal about how Sanders’ performance will impact the quarterback competition, saying the team is focused on developing their players and entering evaluation mode. With a joint practice with the Eagles next week, it remains to be seen if Pickett and Gabriel will be able to fully participate and challenge Sanders for the starting role.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45928935/browns-rookie-shedeur-sanders-impresses-2-tds-preseason-debut