Shedeur Sanders finds the end zone versus Carolina

The narrative coming into the game was that Shedeur had not had anytime to get comfortable with the first team offense. Not to worry as hardly any of the first team were even playing on Friday. He was going to be playing with the exact same guys that he has had time with during training camp.

Carolina won the toss, but deferred to the second half. That gave Shedeur Sanders and Cleveland the ball first to open the NFL Preseason. 

Pick number 144 started his NFL career out of the shotgun, with a handoff to Dylan Sampson for a gain of five yards. On second and five Shedeur threw to Diontae Johnson but the wide receiver was unable to come up with the ball. On third down Sanders completed the pass to Kaden Davis, but the Browns ended up about a yard short.

Kevin Stefanski decided to punt the ball away. That ends Shedeur’s first drive as he ended up 1-2 for five yards. Shedeur will look to build upon his first action, as the night unfolds.

Sanders started his second drive in the shotgun to Trayveon Williams with a 14 yard screen. Shedeur took a shot to Diontae Johnson deep, but after getting his feet tangled up, Johnson was unable to make the catch. After Sampson was stuffed on a second down run, Shedeur took off to pick up a 12 yard rushing gain on third and nine.

A loss of two on an end around to Kaden Davis, preceded a high throw from Shedeur after he escaped pressure from Carolina. On third down Sanders completed an excellent ball to Jamari Thrash, but was short of the first down. Kevin Stefanski decided to go for it on fourth down, and Shedeur avoided damage as he was able to throw the ball away after avoiding more pressure from the Panthers.

Following a scoring drive from the Panthers, Shedeur took over for his third drive. Sanders connected with tight end Brenden Bates for a pick up of five. Shedeur completed a pass to Jamari Thrash but for a loss of two. Shedeur was incomplete on third down, and the Browns had to punt the ball away.

After Carolina could not handle the punt, they gave the ball back to Cleveland. Working with a short field, Shedeur Sanders worked out of pistol on first and goal and handed the ball to Ahmani Marshall for a gain of three.

On second and goal Shedeur Sanders lofted a lovely ball to Kaden Davis, for his first career NFL touchdown. Pure precision from Sanders. He finished the drive, and has now completed 6 of 11 passes for 40 yards, and a touchdown.