Shedeur Sanders is set to take the starting role for the Cleveland Browns in Friday’s preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers.
The rookie quarterback, who has had limited practice opportunities so far, will get a chance to prep with the first team this week, including starter reps during the joint practice with the Panthers on Wednesday.
Limited Practice Time Due to Injuries
Sanders’ start comes amid injuries to other quarterbacks on the roster. Kenny Pickett and rookie Dillon Gabriel have been dealing with hamstring injuries, limiting their practice participation recently.
Veteran Joe Flacco, listed as the starter on the initial depth chart, will not play in the preseason game. As a result, Sanders will have the opportunity to lead the Browns’ offense on Friday night.
Tyler Huntley Signed to Provide Backup
To bolster the quarterback position, the Browns signed Tyler Huntley on Tuesday. Huntley is expected to back up Sanders and take over if needed during the game. Huntley’s arrival adds depth to the position as the Browns deal with injuries to their quarterbacks.
Sanders’ Limited Exposure in Practice
Despite being listed as a starter on the depth chart, Sanders has had minimal practice time with the first-team offense. According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, Sanders has only received four snaps with the first-team defense during training camp, all of which came on Day 7 of camp last week.
He has yet to throw passes to key targets like Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, Diontae Johnson, or David Njoku.
Sanders’ Health Status
Sanders did miss Saturday’s practice due to arm soreness, but he returned to practice on Monday and declared himself fully healthy. This marks an important recovery for the rookie as he prepares for his first real opportunity to lead the offense in a game situation.
The preseason opener on Friday will give Shedeur Sanders an important chance to showcase his skills and earn more reps with the first team. His performance could help solidify his standing on the Browns’ depth chart, while also giving the team a clearer picture of his development ahead of the regular season.
