Browns give Shedeur Sanders starting nod for now

Shedeur Sanders is getting a chance for the Cleveland Browns, expected to start for the team in their Friday night preseason opener against Carolina.

Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reported the news that Sanders is not only starting but preparing with the first-team this week too, inclung in a joint-practice with the Panthers.

Things have been looking very bleak for the Colorado Buffaloes star in Ohio. The owner of the team said drafting Sanders was not his decison but that of the GM. Earlier this week, Sanders was pushed down to fourth on the depth chart. The document had in order: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, Sanders and then the injured Deshaun Watson.

Sanders has not been getting a ton of reps in practice because of his low ranking on the depth chart. But Pickett and fellow rookie Gabriel are dealing with hamstring injuries that have limited their availability as of late. Meanwhile, the veteran Flacco, atop the chart, is not playing in the first preseason game.

But a crack opening for Sanders may not be that bright since the team also brought in another quarterback, signing former Pro Bowler Tyler Huntley on Tuesday.

Cabot says Sanders has received only four snaps against the first-team defense during training camp. He is yet to throw to much of the first team offense.

Sanders himself is dealing with an injury, as arm soreness kept him out of Saturday’s practice, but he said this week he’s healthy

Sanders was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year last fall for an awesome season where he ranked in the top 10 nationally in completion percentage (74%), passing yards (4,134) and touchdowns (37) while breaking Colorado school records for passing touchdowns, passing yards, consecutive games with a touchdown pass, quarterback rating and completion percentage.

Could Sanders be getting one last look by the Browns before the door closes on him, or may this chance catch the eyes of other teams? The NFL will be watching the Browns on Friday.

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