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Shedeur Sanders Set to Start Browns Preseason Opener
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The NFL world is set to get an extended look at quarterback Shedeur Sanders on Friday night.
According to cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot, Sanders will start the Cleveland Browns' preseason opener on Friday against the Carolina Panthers. The decision comes, in part, due to fellow signal callers Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel dealing with injuries.
#Browns QB Shedeur Sanders is expected to start Friday night's preseason opener on the road vs. the #Panthers with Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel both nursing hamstring injuries, source tells clevelanddotcom: ----> https://t.co/rGobOe9RtW
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 5, 2025
Sanders, 23, was drafted by the Browns in the fifth round (No.144) in the 2025 NFL draft and has been buried on the depth chart by Pickett, Gabriel, and veteran Joe Flacco. He's yet to see first team reps throughout training camp, which is why he hasn't invited his father—University of Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders—to attend practice in Berea this summer.
Perhaps Coach Prime will now get the invite this weekend. Friday night's game between the Browns and Panthers will kick off at 7:30 p.m. EST from Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium.
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Mike Kadlick is a senior NFL news writer for Sports Illustrated. He’s also a New England Patriots reporter for CLNS Media, where he hosts the Patriots Daily podcast and covers the beat from Gillette Stadium. Before joining SI, Kadlick worked at WEEI sports radio in Boston. He holds a master’s degree in public relations from Boston University. When Kadlick’s not covering football, he can be found running, spending time with his wife and dog, and enjoying all things pizza.