Shedeur stars in Browns preseason curtain raiser

    Shedeur Sanders was handed an opportunity through circumstance that few young quarterbacks receive — a chance to play an almost complete preseason game to showcase his talents to a live studio audience.

Sanders threw two touchdown passes to Kaden Davis and played into the fourth quarter in the Browns 30-10 win over the Carolina Panthers.

Sanders completed fourteen of twenty-three passes for 138 yards and didn't throw an interception.

I'm not going to get too in-depth on the game because I was watching at work, and I'll review it later this week, but I did want to write about Sanders, who is dueling for a roster spot against fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.

The Browns may need to find a way to keep both, because after a successful game under these constraints, Cleveland will lose Sanders if they try to slide him through to a practice squad slot.

There's no way he wouldn't be grabbed by another team, so Andrew Berry and the Browns already need to be working on how to keep both rookie quarterbacks, because I don't believe either makes it through waivers.

Sanders threw the ball very well, and both of his scoring throws were on the dime, especially the second, which was an absolute dart to Kaden Davis.

Sanders wasn't perfect, though, as he did have a few struggles against the pass rush.

On two occasions, Sanders managed to avoid the rush but hurried his throws, resulting in incomplete tosses.

Sanders's best throw was his thirty-yard gain to free agent WR Luke Floriea, who stretched out to make the catch, but Sanders put the ball exactly where he needed to -where his receiver could catch and where the defensive back couldn't.

It's hard to place preseason success in its proper perspective.

Shedeur Sanders' debut had to be judged a success, and he showed the field vision and skills to give some optimism.

However, he played two drives against the Panthers' starting defense, completed four of eight passes, and didn't score against them, so his success came against reserves and players who won't be playing in the league in a few weeks.

That's preseason football for most players, so that's not a judgment or a criticism; it's just a fact.

Sanders isn't likely to play nearly this much in the final two exhibition contests.

Joe Flacco will likely need a drive or two for sharpness' sake, and Kenny Pickett, along with Dillon Gabriel, will want their look, assuming their injuries will allow it, which I bet each player will badly want their spotlight time, especially after Sanders' play in this game.

There were good things and reasons to hope after seeing Shedeur Sanders, but Browns fans and media need to keep things in line.

No matter how hard it is to do so.