In one of the most anticipated debuts in the preseason of the NFL, the rookie field marshal did not disappoint
Charlotte, NC – in what should have been one of the most anticipated preseason rookie debuts in the recent history of the NFLthe field marshal of the Cleveland Browns, Shedeur Sandershe appeared to the league on Friday.
He looked good. He looked strong. Looked like a field marshal NFL fact and right. If Sanders's goal was to press Cleveland Browns Already his main rival for a position on the squad, the also rookie Dillon Gabriel, Mission fulfilled. A national audience that for months has fought a fierce debate on social networks about Sanders' merits as a field marshal saw a safe and confident rookie to lead Cleveland to a 30-10 preseason victory over the Carolina Panthers.
An unimportant preseason game? Maybe. But as Sanders pointed out on Friday night, the game was not insignificant for players looking for a place in the team.
He was not insignificant for him.
“Normally, people don't take that very seriously, but this is our Super Bowl, it is the Super Bowl of each and every one of the players,” he said.
Yes, there were flashes of the so -called heroic ball that Sanders played throughout his university career: the comings and goings when he should simply lose the ball or have completed a short pass. But there were also flashes of the electricity Sanders: a getaway and a full long pass to Luke floriea, a couple of touchdown passes perfectly placed in the red zone to Kaden Davis. In general, Sanders, as he has been with few repetitions during the training camp, was the image of discipline and efficiency on Friday: 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
You could ask yourself: compared to what? Shedeur Sanders occupies fourth in the field of Campo de los Marshal Brownsbehind Joe Flacco, 40 years old, the alleged head; Kenny Pickett, former draft first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers; and Gabriel, who was selected two rounds before Sanders in April.
The only reason why Sanders had the opportunity to play more minutes on Friday, ”he played well into the third quarter – is because Picktt and Gabriel are discharged due to ischiotibial injuries. The injuries have given Sanders a window of opportunity he has taken.
“In general, I felt like me,” he said. “And I could not do it, of course, without time. I could not do it without the direction of the plays.”
The dilemma for a franchise of Cleveland That he has only seen dysfunction in the field marshal position during the last three seasons is that, if Sanders continues to take full advantage of his opportunity, the coaching staff and executives will be under pressure to ascend in the template.
The dilemma was reflected in the press conference after Friday's game, when the coach in chief Kevin Stefanski He was riddled with questions about the state and the performance of Sanders.
What effect does the match have on the Browns Campo Mariscal competition?
Stefanski: We are really only focused on developing our players. We are in evaluation mode. I am satisfied with the current status of the boys, but I am not getting into a competence in Marshal.
How will the extended game time help Shedeur are receiving to evaluate its position in relation to its competition?
Stefanski: The situations were invaluable for Shedeur, for our entire offensive. We had a third and one, in which he managed to escape. That is, there is a lot of American football, and that is intentional, since it has many repetitions in this game, and it will also have them next week. All this is part of the development of our young players.
Did Shedeur surprised you?
Stefanski: We have the expectation that our field marshals, our players, when they play in that position, operate and make good decisions with the ball. Our field marshal was in charge of the ball, which is no small thing.
The Browns play against the Eagles next week; Will Sanders also start in that party?
Stefanski: I'm not at that point yet. I have to see who is healthy and all that.
In terms of fanfarroneía and generation of enthusiasm, Shedeur Sanders is the reincarnation of Baker Mayfieldwho played four seasons in Cleveland Before being released in 2021. Since then, the organization has been in a limbo in the field of field marshal. The Browns acquired in 2022 a lost Deshaun Watson And they broke a precedent by granting a fully guaranteed salary. The co -owner of the Browns, Jimmy Haslem, Finally he admitted earlier this year that the organization bet strongly and failed to sign Watson.
Now the Browns They have a group of four field marshal, and the most exciting player between them, potentially, is the controversial Sanders.
For critics who felt that Sanders' value had fallen simply because he was an African -American young man with too much fanfarería, Friday's performance confirmed that the son of Deion Sanders It is not a fifth selection of the draft.
For critics who felt that Shedeur was a byproduct of coach's advertising machinery Prime During the last five years and was properly selected in the draft, Friday's performance was revealing, as long as he continues to play and play well.
The numbers of Shedeur Sanders They were good on Friday, but has always contributed more than numbers. During the press conference after Friday, I remembered why a selection of fifth round, number 4 in the template depth, would attract so much attention to a pre -season match otherwise bland. Sanders is usually captivating.
He is the son of a legend of the NFL. He was born in an environment of wealth, notoriety and privileges. It is also part of a story that began with his father in a historically African -American university, Jackson State, where his presence was celebrated – together with that of Travis Hunter, Second Global Draft Selection of 2025— As the black gold that returns home.
Sanders went to a predominantly white university, Colorado, what some considered a betrayal and others a way to take advantage of opportunities when they presented themselves. Now, he tries to make his way alone, and this will undoubtedly be his most difficult change. He has been a star since the age of 12 and has been the center of attention throughout his university career.
Now he occupies the fourth place in the standings.
As journalists declared after Friday's game: “It is different things and life lessons that you have to overcome, and I have never gone through this situation. So it's just a test. I am grateful to have been able to see the light of day, go out and play. They did not have to let me play. So, everything suits me.”
Although his notoriety is not irrelevant – that's why I left what I was doing and I turned to Charlotte – Sanders' success will depend on playing as he did on Friday when he has another chance.
That was what they asked after Friday's game: do you think you will have a fair opportunity to win the position?
“I just think about playing, just doing what I have to do,” he replied. “Everything else is not in my hands, so why worry?
While listening to Sanders, talk about how important it was for him to take advantage of this moment, I thought about the lyrics of a song of my youth that has been recorded for decades about the lost opportunity. Gene Chandler sang: “Love only comes once, and when you arrive, you better take advantage of it, because you may not come back.” So was Shedeur Sanders on Friday and so is now with the Cleveland Browns.
The opportunity is here, and you better take advantage of it, because it may not come back.
