Shedeur Sanders was splendid in his preseason NFL debut for the Cleveland Browns against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8, 2025.
In his 2025 debut with the Browns, Sanders threw two TD passes to Kaden Davis- a seven-yard pass early in the second quarter and a 12-yard pass just before halftime. Sanders played into the third quarter, threw accurate passes, was able to manage pressure, and did not turn the ball over.
Overall, Sanders made an excellent case for a higher billing in the Browns QB competition with this outing.
Unfortunately, that momentum has hit a hurdle. Sanders is now dealing with an oblique injury that was sustained during a joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles earlier in the week. The injury occurred while throwing in warmups and it didn’t subside during individual drills, which eventually led the Browns to shut Sanders down for the rest of practice.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski spoke to the situation and reiterated they are going to proceed carefully.
“Felt it early I think warming up and felt it throughout individuals, and [we] took a look at it,” Stefanski explained.
“If it’s a right guard, you can play through that. When it’s a quarterback, you kind of need that muscle to throw,” he added.
Shedeur Sanders’ comments illustrate how delicate the injury is. An oblique strain can impact a quarterback’s throwing motion and, if they move forward before they should, it can actually damage it worse. That throws Sanders’ availability for Saturday’s preseason game against the Eagles into serious question.
Shedeur Sanders’ Injury Comes at a Crucial Point in Preseason
The injury comes at a tough time in Shedeur Sanders’ preseason story. Since both veteran Kenny Pickett and third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel missed the opener with hamstring injuries, Sanders had a real chance to include his name in the quarterback discussion.
If Sanders had another strong game, he had a chance to skyrocket past at least one of them – possibly both – if there was any quarterback movement within the rotation at all. Now, that chance becomes more of a challenge, with the only other operational game left being the Week 3 game against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 23.
If Sanders is not cleared for the game against Philadelphia, he would need a great ending to change the perception the coaching staff has of him. For now, Sanders or Tyler Huntley are expected to take more snaps, and possibly Gabriel or Pickett, depending on their clearance, will see their first preseason action.
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