Shedeur Sanders Set to Make NFL Debut as Browns QB4 Starter

On tomorrow, Shedeur Sanders will take the field for his first NFL game as he is named the starter for the Cleveland Browns in their first preseason matchup of the season against the Carolina Panthers. Recent depth charts show Sanders listed as QB4, behind veteran Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. Both Pickett and Gabriel are out due to injuries, and the Browns opted to sit the 40-year-old Flacco. This left the starting position to Sanders, who was once projected to be a late first-round or even second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but instead slipped all the way to the fifth round.

There have been many questions about why he fell so far. After Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said, “If you would’ve told me… Friday night driving home y’all are going to pick Shedeur, I would say, ‘That’s not happening.’ But we had a conversation early that Saturday morning, and then we had a conversation later that day,” speculation about the Browns’ true feelings toward Sanders only grew.

With all the rumbling, controversy, and scrutiny surrounding Sanders’ draft experience, training camp performance, and now his first projected NFL start, the spotlight is on him more than ever. Sanders has taken no snaps in practice with the first team but put up impressive training camp stats—49-for-70 with a 70 percent completion rate, six touchdowns, and no interceptions. That means the chemistry between him and the first-team offense may be a bit off during the game on tomorrow. It also means he will need to quickly demonstrate his ability to lead and adapt.

In the NFL, there is no room for excuses, and he will face a small margin of error despite the circumstances. On the other hand, Sanders has been under scrutiny and in the spotlight for most of his life. As the son of Deion Sanders, one of the most recognizable and polarizing figures in sports, Shedeur has been groomed to handle pressure. His father has been his head coach or involved in some type of coaching role for his entire football career. In addition to that, Shedeur will not have his brothers Bucky or Shilo with him every game. He is officially on his own.

That reality brings forward a new layer of pressure. How will he respond when things get really tough? How will he rise to the occasion when his closest allies are not physically around?

My Take

I believe Shedeur will have some early game jitters and may miss a few reads or even hold the ball too long in the pocket. Even with that, he will keep his composure and continue to show his leadership as we have seen time and time again at Colorado. This will be a test for him because he will have to lean on his coaches and veteran teammates for support when it may not look good, versus having his father and brothers in his corner.

Furthermore, Shedeur, despite holding the ball too long at times, is a pretty accurate passer and we will see some of that in the game. He knows this is his shot and in the words of Eminem, “You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow.” I am sure that will be in the back of Shedeur’s mind.

No matter the outcome on Friday, this game marks a defining moment in Shedeur Sanders’ football journey. It is more than just a preseason start. It is his chance to prove he belongs at the professional level, not because of his last name, but because of his talent, preparation, and poise. The stage is set, the critics are watching, and Shedeur now has the opportunity to begin writing his own NFL story. One snap at a time.