Despite the best efforts of the front office and the coaching staff to undermine and derail the early portion of Shedeur Sanders' NFL career, the legendary Colorado signal-caller has still forced their hand with terrific play in Training Camp.
Just a day after being listed as the Browns' No. 4 QB on the depth chart, Sanders is set to start Cleveland's preseason opener on Friday against the Panthers on the road, according to Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot.
Hamstring injuries for Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel will likely keep them sidelined, and it's unknown how much the Browns want to use Joe Flacco on Friday, considering he's currently at the top of the depth chart. The Browns signed Tyler Huntley on Monday due to injury issues in their QB room, and he might ultimately serve as the emergency backup QB for the Browns.
Shedeur Sanders has a massive opportunity in front of him
This is Sanders's opportunity to make a major move in the QB battle. With injuries keeping Pickett and Gabriel out, the Browns are unlikely to want to risk the veteran Flacco, and Huntley, just now getting into camp, it's possible that Sanders plays the entire way on Friday night in Carolina.
This gives him an opportunity to show not just the Browns, but the rest of the NFL, what he can do.
Sanders has consistently put up the best statistics in Training Camp, but there's a big difference between practice and a live game. But Sanders is fully confident in his abilities. He was the most accurate quarterback in the country for Colorado last season, and he has the talent to succeed in the NFL.
According to Cabot, Sanders is also expected to take the bulk of first-team reps during the Browns/Panthers joint practice on Wednesday as he prepares to start on Friday.
Sanders has said and done all the right things in practice since the Browns drafted him in the fifth round back in April. He had an unceremonious fall in the draft from being a projected Top 10 pick all the way to the fifth round, but he hasn't let that impact his work ethic. He's still grinding, keeping his head down, and putting the work in to become the franchise QB that Colorado fans know he can be.
Sanders has earned the right to start for the Browns in their preseason opener. This won't be the last start of his career, either.