Browns' Shedeur Sanders makes his mark vs. Bills with touchdown pass

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Browns' Shedeur Sanders makes his mark vs. Bills with touchdown pass

By Anne Erickson | Last updated Aug 22, 2026 3:07 PM ET

Well, that was quick.

During the Cleveland Browns' preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders took advantage of his time on the field with a major play early on.

First, there was a weather delay. The game at Huntington Bank Field was halted less than two minutes into the action because of lightning.

When it was safe to hit the field again, Sanders wowed the crowd right away. The second-year quarterback threw a touchdown on his first full drive since the game resumed, leading an 11-play, 65-yard drive. He wrapped up an eight-yard touchdown pass to Luke Floriea to tie the game 7-7 in the first quarter.

the second year connection for the TD!#BUFvsCLE on News 5 pic.twitter.com/BntGdJpIAM
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 22, 2026

Shedeur Sanders makes an early statement amid Browns' QB battle

This drive wasn't just impressive. It was an excellent beginning for him. He's in a hot quarterback battle with veteran Deshaun Watson. Sanders and Watson have been trading reps in practice, but the preseason games are a different animal.

This drive shows that Sanders can make big plays happen under pressure. If he can outperform Watson in the preseason, that just builds a stronger case for the Browns to entrust Sanders with the starting role.

It would take a lot for head coach Todd Monken to select Sanders, since Watson has been waiting in the wings and the team has paid him so much money as he recovers from injury, but if Sanders can prove he's the better man for the job, he should have it.

Anne Erickson

Anne Erickson is an award-winning news reporter covering the NFL, NBA, college sports and more for Yardbarker. Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and other sports, and her work has been published by Fox Sports, ESPN and Newsweek, among others. She has also interviewed a bevy of big names in sports and entertainment, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, Lions edge Aidan Hutchinson and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott

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