Shedeur Sanders shines under the lights in triumphant NFL preseason debut

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

CHARLOTTE, NC

Instant takeaways from Browns’ 30-10 win over the Panthers …

1. A legendary debut: Shedeur Sanders arrived at Bank of America Stadium wearing his customary diamond-studded “Legendary” necklace and a broad, confident smile. He lived up to that grand entrance in his NFL preseason debut. Despite taking fewer reps over 11 practices than any of the team’s four quarterbacks, Sanders was near-flawless operationally and produced three touchdowns, two on completions to receiver Kaden Davis in the second quarter. Throwing mostly out of the shotgun formation, Sanders avoided a couple giant sacks with elongated escapes deep into the backfield. His TDs showed off his great touch and accuracy and he was poised on both. A Gage Larvadain 4-yard TD run on a jet sweep completed the Browns scoring with Sanders in. The Browns punctuated Sanders’ big night with a 30-10 triumph. Sanders was relieved by Tyler Huntley with 2:12 left in the third quarter. Huntley produced nine points (5-yard pass to Cade McDonald) and Dustin Hopkins added a 23-yard field goal, though he missed a PAT. For the night, Sanders was 14 of 23 for 138 yards and the two TDs. He was sacked twice and exited with a 106.8 passer rating. Sanders also gained 19 yards on four keeper runs. Earlier in the day, Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s dad, predicted at a press conference in Colorado, “It’s gonna be a problem after tonight, I promise you that.” He was referring to the decisions the Browns will have to make after their fourth-string quarterback put on a show.

2. Simmer down now: Sanders appeared understandably over-amped on his first three series. He was 3 of 6 for 30 yards and had a 10-yard run on a keeper against the Panthers' first-team defense. Sanders drifted and then retreated 25 yards on a fourth-and-1 play and turned the ball over by barely throwing the ball away with edge rusher D.J. Wonnum in hot pursuit. Sanders also missed open running back Ahmani Marshall with a high throw that could have converted a second-and-12. But when the Panthers sent in their second-teamers on defense, Sanders owned them in the second quarter with two pretty touchdown throws. After a Carolina muff on a punt gave the Browns the ball at the Panthers’ 10, Sanders scored on the second play. From under center, he play-faked to Marshall, moved out of the pocket to his left and put the ball on the money to Kaden Davis breaking behind cornerback Corey Thornton in the left corner for a 7-yard TD. Late in the half, Sanders executed a quick scoring drive set up by a 17-yard punt return by Davis. Starting with 3:02 left in the half, Sanders benefitted from a one-handed catch by Luke Floriea for 30 yards. Three plays later, Sanders got a good blitz pickup from Marshall and fired the ball to Davis in the middle of the end zone for a 12-yard TD. So in the second quarter, Sanders was 8 of 12 for 73 yards and 2 TD.

3. Prime cuts: Earlier in the day, Coach Prime said to Colorado media that he spoke three times on Friday with Shedeur and they “just got off joking and clowning like crazy” over the anticipation of his first NFL game. “It’s gonna be strange for both of us,” Prime said. “I was in the hospital the last time I missed, I think, three games, but this time I’m well. … He’s so prepared right now. A lot of people are approaching it like a preseason game, but he’s approaching it like a game. And that’s how he’s always approached everything. To prepare and approach it like, ‘This is it.’ … I can’t wait to see him play.  … It’s gonna be a little weird, a little strange. I got to admit that. But I’m praying for him. God has set him up and placed him in the perfect position that he needs to be in. It’s gonna be a problem after tonight, though, I promise you that.”

4. Good showing: Rookies Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger were also impressive in their NFL preseason debuts. They both started and played through the first quarter against the Carolina first-team offense. Schwesinger made the tackle on the Panthers’ first play – a 5-yard run by Chuba Hubbard. Schwesinger was all over the field in his stint – tackling, rushing and dropping into coverage. He was credited with six total tackles, four solo. Graham forced a sack on the third Carolina offensive play when he beat a double team and Bryce Young stepped into Alex Wright’s sack. Graham also was credited with a tackle. Playing through the first quarter with his first-team offense, Young was 4 of 6 for 58 yards and 1 TD. H was sacked once and left with a 137.5 rating.

5. Battling: There might be one roster spot to be won by an undrafted receiver, and Gage Larvadain and Luke Floriea  each made their case for it. Larvadain converted a third-and-8 situation from the Browns’ 8 when he caught a 19-yard strike from Sanders in the middle of the field on a drive in the second quarter. Larvadain had two catches on three targets for 23 yards in the first half. He also broke a punt return for 30 yards in the third quarter. Carolina's Isaac Gifford's tackle saved a 68-yard TD. Larvadain also scored the Browns’ third TD on a 4-yard jet sweep run in the third quartter. Floriea made the catch of the game on the second scoring drive in the second quarter when he hauled in Sanders’ touch pass with his left hand for a 30-yard gain on second-and-12 from the Browns’ 48. Floriea also had a 25-yard kick return and nine yards on two punt returns. He muffed one but recovered. Floriea left the game late in third quarter with a hamstring injury.

6. Outta here: Browns safety Rayshawn Jenkins and Panthers receiver Xavier Legette exchanged blows away from a running play midway through the first quarter. Both players were ejected. The fracas ended with Jenkins pulling the helmet off Legette.

7. Enjoy the game: Twenty-four Browns were kept out of the game. The only projected starters to play were all on defense – rookies Graham and  Schwesinger and Ronnie Hickman. Ahmani Marshall started at running back and led the Browns with 32 yards on 8 attempts. For the first two quarters, Sanders played behind an offensive line of LT Cornelius Lucas, LG Teven Jenkins, C Luke Wypler, RG Javion Cohen and RT Jackson Barton. Third-teamers entered in the third quarter.