Cleveland rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders made an impressive pro football debut on Friday, throwing for two touchdowns while leading the Browns to a 30-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte.
The game was the preseason opener for both teams.
Sanders, who started and played until the middle of the third quarter, completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards. He also ran four times for 19 yards.
The Panthers led 7-0 after a 5-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Young to Jalen Coker late in the first quarter before Sanders threw his two scoring passes to give the Browns a 14-7 halftime lead. Each time Sanders connected with Kaden Davis, for 7 yards and for 12 yards.
Sanders engineered another TD drive in the third quarter before exiting with Cleveland up 21-7.
Tyler Huntley went the rest of the way at quarterback for the Browns, hitting on 6 of 8 passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Young played the first two series for the Panthers and went 4-for-6 for 58 yards and the one score. Andy Dalton (13-for-19, 101 yards, one interception) and Jack Plummer (6-for-10, 79 yards) handled the rest of Carolina’s QB duties.
Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette and Browns safety Rayshawn Jenkins were ejected after throwing punches in the first quarter.
–Field Level Media
