CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Browns will get their first game experience of the preseason Aug. 8 when they play at the Carolina Panthers in the exhibition season opener.
Of course, there’s only one thing about the game that is really grabbing the attention around the nation. That’s the first NFL preseason start of rookie fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders’ career.
Sanders is expected to play a substantial portion of the game due to injuries limiting Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel. Joe Flacco got his work in during the Aug. 6 joint practice with Carolina, so he’s also not playing.
The only other quarterback the Browns will have available is Tyler Huntley. Huntley, who they call “Snoop,” agreed to a deal Aug. 4 as a short-term fill-in at quarterback due to the injuries.
While there’s other aspects of the Browns to pay attention to against the Panthers, the eyes will be on Sanders. So, what are some things to watch for with his debut?
How does Shedeur Sanders handle Carolina Panthers’ pass rush?
The Browns aren’t going to be starting most, if not all, of their first-unit offensive linemen. The line Sanders will be playing behind, however, aren’t strangers to him since he’s played behind them with some regularity during training camp.
The Panthers are expected to play their starters for at least some portion of the first quarter. The exceptions, though, are likely to include Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Brown, as well as defensive end and 2024 team sack co-leader A’Shawn Robinson.
There’s still some talent that should be out there for at least Sanders’ first series, such as outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum, who had four sacks a year ago. and up-and-coming inside linebacker Trevin Wallace. Carolina is sure to try and dial up the pressure on the rookie, whether by design or just within scheme.
One thing Sanders has to show is how he can handle pressure. While his offensive line wasn’t great at Colorado, it wasn’t the only reason why he was sacked so many times in college.
While the plays in training camp have been allowed to go to their conclusion without stopping for “sacks,” there’s been a number of times where Sanders has drifted in the pocket and held onto the ball a tick or two too long. In live action, those kind of things will result in sacks, so he has to show he can process quickly and, if the pressure is there and the receivers aren’t, either tuck it or toss it away.
Who does Shedeur Sanders turn to in Cleveland Browns’ wide receiving corps?
Wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman have already been ruled out for the game by Stefanski. He hasn’t said anything yet about tight end David Njoku, although it feels like he’ll also be on the sideline for this game.
That’s still a lot of wide receivers and tight ends for Sanders to work with in the game. That includes some who have been consistently getting No. 1 reps, such as Jamari Thrash, Kaden Davis and former Pro Bowler Diontae Johnson.
Sanders has developed a nice rapport through training camp with rookie Gage Larvadain, who has seen some work with the No. 1 unit over the last week. Another undrafted rookie, Luke Floriea, also figures to continue to be a favorite target for him.
Keep an eye out for third-round tight end Harold Fannin Jr. as well. He might be the Browns pass-catcher who gets the most people talking by the time the game ends if he plays close to the level he’s been at for much of training camp.
What does ‘game version’ Shedeur Sanders show that he hasn’t in practice?
Sanders last spoke on Aug. 4, a day before the Browns traveled to Charlotte for the joint practice and game. It was also a day before it became public that he was going to be the starter against the Panthers.
Still, everyone knew Sanders was going to get a lot of playing time in Carolina. So he was asked what should be expected out of him once he gets on the game field.
“Have you watched me in college? Well, a little bit of that going on,” Sanders said. “I’m still the same guy. Nothing happened to me. I’m the same guy. If anything, I’m a little bit stronger mentally, physically, emotionally, and the way I handle different situations.”
Sanders may not have received any reps with the No. 1 offensive line, or with Jeudy and Njoku, in team drills in camp. However, he’s been anything but limited in the reps he has received, especially for a quarterback who was selected in the fifth round and was listed No. 4 on the unofficial first depth chart.
Counting a double series during the final situational 11-on-11 period on Aug. 4, he’s had 28 total seven-on-seven or 11-on-11 series over 10 practices. Against the Panthers in the joint practice, he ran one series with the twos in seven-on-seven, then had two separate 11-on-11 series, one of which was red-zone situations.
The way to generate more work is for Sanders to go out and show how he’s progressed in answering the internal questions about him. They best way to do that is going out against another team and performing in a game setting, without the harnesses that any training camp workout or joint practice provide.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Shedeur Sanders NFL starting debut | What to watch for in Browns-Panthers preseason game
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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