Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will get the starting nod for the Cleveland Browns in their preseason opener Friday night against the Carolina Panthers.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the decision ahead of the team’s joint practice with Carolina. He added that recently signed quarterback Tyler Huntley is also expected to see playing time, depending on how quickly he picks up the team’s offensive system. Joe Flacco, Cleveland’s presumed starter for the regular season, will sit out, while Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel continue to recover from injuries.
“My expectations for Shedeur are the same as for any other player,” Stefanski said. “I want him to go out there and execute. Preseason is about keeping things simple so the guys can play fast. The plays will be concepts they’re familiar with.”
Initially, Stefanski was noncommittal when asked directly if Sanders would start, noting that Huntley had just joined the team and still needed to adjust to the playbook. However, team officials later confirmed Sanders as the starter for Friday’s game.
Pickett and Gabriel were expected to participate in 7-on-7 drills during practice, but would not take part in full-team sessions.
Sanders, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 212 pounds, was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft after an impressive college career. He won the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award following a standout season at Colorado, where he played under his father, Deion Sanders. He had previously played two seasons at Jackson State before transferring to Colorado. Across 50 collegiate games, Sanders threw for 14,353 yards, 134 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions, while also adding 17 rushing scores.
Although Sanders currently sits fourth on Cleveland’s quarterback depth chart, a wave of injuries has given him increased practice reps. On Wednesday, he was seen taking snaps with the second team. Stefanski noted that a recent bout of shoulder soreness is no longer a concern.
On the opposing sideline, Panthers head coach Dave Canales confirmed that Bryce Young will start at quarterback on Friday. It marks a shift from last year, when the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft saw minimal preseason action. Carolina’s starters are expected to play one or two series in the game.
Canales explained the decision as part of a plan to build early chemistry and rhythm for a young team. Young echoed that enthusiasm.
“I’m really excited to get out there,” Young said. “Every year brings a new team, a new identity. It’s a great chance to get comfortable, find our rhythm, and get some reps in.”
When asked whether limited preseason reps contributed to his struggles in 2024, Young declined to make any connections. Last season, he was benched after two rough games in which the Panthers were outscored 73-13 by the Saints and Chargers. He didn’t return to the starting role until late October following an injury to Andy Dalton.
Young also clarified that he had no role in the coaching decision to play more this preseason. “I trust the coaches and their judgment,” he said. “They do what they believe is best for the team. What happened last year is in the past. This decision is about this year, and I’m focused on making the most of it.”
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