Shedeur Sanders finally got an opportunity to impress everyone in Week 1 of the NFL preseason. With Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett both sidelined due to hamstring injuries, Sanders started for the Cleveland Browns against the Carolina Panthers and turned heads with his performance.
Here are the full stats for Sanders as he aims to climb up the Browns’ depth chart.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Turns Heads With Dominant Preseason Debut
The Browns led 14-7 at halftime against the Panthers, and Sanders completed 11 of 18 passes for 107 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in the first half.
The former Colorado quarterback posted a passer rating of 113.9 in the first half and rushed for 19 yards on four carries.
Despite playing without any notable Browns starters, Sanders was sacked just once in the first half. Sanders also played some snaps against the Panthers’ defensive starters, and made very few mistakes — a big step toward improving his place on Cleveland’s depth chart.
Surprisingly, the 23-year-old quarterback also played in the second half, giving him even more reps as he looks to show what he can do against pro competition.
Shedeur Sanders finds Kaden Davis for the TD!
CLEvsCAR on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/uH5pxPho5h— NFL (@NFL) August 8, 2025
Sanders exited the game in the third quarter, and Tyler Huntley, who was signed just this past week, took over.
The final stat line for Sanders in his preseason debut was 14 of 23 for 138 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. He completed 60.83% of his passes with a passer rating of 106.8. He didn’t add anything to his rushing stats from the first half (19 yards) but was sacked once more, bringing his game total to two sacks.
SHEDEUR SANDERS FULL HIGHLIGHTS:
14-23, 138, 2 TD, 106.8 rating
LEGENDARY. @ShedeurSanders pic.twitter.com/xNJiid4wWS
— GUCCE🦬🐦⬛ (@gucceCU) August 9, 2025
Gabriel and Pickett are dealing with hamstring injuries, and in their absence, the Browns’ fifth-round pick left a strong impression.
Deion Sanders was hyped after seeing his son’s performance in his NFL debut. The Colorado head coach posted via his X account to share messages about the Browns quarterback’s performance.
“Yes Lawd! Yes!” wrote Coach Prime.
He also sent a message to his son’s critics, writing, “Oh yeah, what now!” and then thanked God, “God is so good!”
Oh yeah what now! #CoachPrime
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) August 9, 2025
While Joe Flacco is still expected to start for the Browns in Week 1, Sanders’ performance against the Panthers has put him on par with the rest of the quarterbacks.
If he continues to perform well in practices and delivers another strong showing in the preseason, he will likely secure a chance to start at some point in the regular season.
