Shedeur Sanders’ first drive in preseason start ends with passing touchdown originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Shedeur Sanders had to wait through a lightning delay to make his first preseason start for the Cleveland Browns. Once he finally stepped onto the field, he looked completely prepared for the moment.
Sanders completed all four of his pass attempts and finished Cleveland’s opening possession with an eight-yard touchdown strike to Luke Floriea against the Buffalo Bills. The quarterback went 4-for-4 for 43 yards and produced a perfect answer after Buffalo scored on the opening possession.
It was an impressive introduction for Sanders, who entered Saturday’s Week 2 preseason game facing plenty of pressure to strengthen his position in Cleveland’s crowded quarterback competition.
The game initially was stopped after only one minute and 49 seconds because of lightning near Huntington Bank Field. Sanders had not taken a snap before players were sent back to their locker rooms with 13:11 remaining in the first quarter.
The unexpected wait did nothing to disrupt his rhythm.
Sanders Delivers Nearly Flawless Opening PossessionSanders completed passes to four different receivers during Cleveland’s first drive. He connected with Blake Whiteheart for 16 yards, Ahmani Marshall for 11, Isaiah Bond for eight and Floriea for the touchdown. Sanders also scrambled for two yards as the Browns steadily moved down the field.
Shedeur Sanders' timing was perfect on this TD pass ⌚️
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The touchdown pass was a composed finish to an efficient possession. Sanders did not force the ball into coverage or attempt to manufacture a highlight. He worked through the offense, found open receivers and finished the drive without taking a sack or committing a turnover.
His four completions produced a 151.0 passer rating. Cleveland failed to convert the extra point, leaving Buffalo with a 7-6 advantage, but Sanders had accomplished everything the Browns could have wanted from his first opportunity.
MORE: Brian Schottenheimer identifies two major Cowboys concerns
Browns Quarterback Competition Gets More InterestingEvery preseason possession carries additional weight for Sanders as the Browns evaluate their options at quarterback.
Sanders needed to demonstrate that he could lead an organized drive, deliver the ball accurately and make good decisions under game pressure. His opening series checked each of those boxes.
The performance also continued an encouraging week for the quarterback. Sanders reportedly made several strong throws during Cleveland’s joint practice with Buffalo, including a deep connection with Malachi Corley.
A controlled practice is different from a live preseason game, however. Sanders’ first drive Saturday showed that his success could translate when tackling and game situations were introduced.
There is still plenty of football remaining before Cleveland makes any definitive decisions about its quarterback hierarchy. One productive drive will not settle the competition, but first impressions matter when opportunities are limited.
Sanders waited through a weather interruption for his chance. When it finally arrived, he completed every pass and put six points on the scoreboard.
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