The Carolina heat wasn’t the only thing rising this week. Tensions, expectations, and quarterback questions all took center stage as the Panthers and Browns collided in a joint practice ahead of their preseason opener tonight at Bank of America Stadium.
A wet Wednesday morning didn’t stop the work. Rain loomed, but both teams got after it at the Panthers’ outdoor facility just blocks from the stadium. Carolina’s Andy Dalton learned quickly that Cleveland’s defense came ready–cornerback Tony Brown II picked off a pass in 11-on-11s, sending a jolt through the Browns’ sideline and drawing some words between the teams.
But practice was just the preview. Tonight, under the stadium lights, the real evaluations begin.
With Joe Flacco resting and both Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel sidelined with hamstring injuries, rookie Shedeur Sanders will take the reins for the Browns. Drafted in the fifth round out of Colorado, Sanders has impressed in camp with poise and timing–but now he’ll be asked to lead a thinned-out offense against Carolina’s starting defense.
He’s not the only one with something to prove. With Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman out, Sanders will be throwing to a young group of receivers, including undrafted standouts Luke Floriea and Gage Larvadain. Both have flashed in camp, and this game offers a chance to turn that promise into something more.
Sanders will likely get extended time, possibly playing most of the game. And that’s by design. “We want a long look at Shedeur,” head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Wednesday, per Cleveland.com. “He’s earned this shot.”
Meanwhile, backup Tyler Huntley–who struggled in joint practice, throwing an interception to Thomas Incoom–should get snaps in the second half.
Carolina Panthers vs Cleveland Browns LIVE: Bryce Young vs. Shedeur Sanders – A Tale of Two Quarterbacks in Panthers-Browns Preseason Opener
Thank you for joining us for the broadcast of the Cleveland Browns 30-10 Carolina Panthers game from Week 1 of the 2025 NFL Preseason at Bank of America Stadium.
Tyler Huntley rush for a loss of 1 yard to the Cle7.
Tyler Huntley rush for a loss of 1 yard to the Cle8.
Tyler Huntley rush for a loss of 1 yard to the Cle9.
Ryan Fitzgerald kicks off to the Cle7. Trayveon Williams return for 13 yards to Cle20. Penalty: Illegal Block on Browns -10 yards.
Ryan Fitzgerald 32 yard field goal attempt is GOOD.
Browns maintain their dominance and absolute control of the game
Two Minute Warning.
Jack Plummer pass to the right to Kobe Hudson for 7 yards to the Cle14.
Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams rush to the left for no gain to the Cle21.
Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams rush to the right for a loss of 1 yard to the Cle21.
Jack Plummer pass to the left to T.J. Luther for 26 yards to the Cle20.
Emani Bailey rush to the right for a loss of 2 yards to the Cle46.
Jack Plummer pass to the left to Jacolby George for 7 yards to the Cle44.
Emani Bailey rush to the right for 4 yards to the Car49.
Emani Bailey rush to the right for 19 yards to the Car45.
Dustin Hopkins kicks off to the Car10. T.J. Luther return for 16 yards to Car26.
Dustin Hopkins extra point is NO GOOD.
Tyler Huntley pass to the left to Cade McDonald for 6 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Tyler Huntley pass to the left to Sal Cannella for 19 yards to the Car6.
Tyler Huntley rush to the middle for 2 yards to the Car25.
Tyler Huntley pass to the left to Sal Cannella for 6 yards to the Car26.
Nike sends a strong message
Toa Taua rush to the right for 4 yards to the Car32.
Tyler Huntley rush to the left for 2 yards to the Car36.
Trayveon Williams rush to the left for 2 yards to the Car38.
Tyler Huntley pass to the right to Toa Taua for 7 yards to the Car40.
Toa Taua rush to the left for 12 yards to the Car47.
Tyler Huntley incomplete pass to the left.
Sam Martin punts for 47 yards to Cle33. Gage Larvadain return for 7 yards to Cle40.
Jack Plummer sacked at Car20 for a loss of 9 yards.
Raheem Blackshear rush to the left for no gain to the Car29.
Penalty: False Start on Panthers (Tyler Mabry) -5 yards.
Jack Plummer pass to the left to T.J. Luther for 8 yards to the Car34.
Dustin Hopkins kicks off to the Car7. Jimmy Horn Jr. return for 19 yards to Car26.
Dustin Hopkins 23 yard field goal attempt is GOOD.
Tyler Huntley sacked at Car5 for no gain.
Toa Taua rush to the middle for 6 yards to the Car5.
Tyler Huntley incomplete pass to the left intended for Kisean Johnson.
Toa Taua rush to the middle for 4 yards to the Car11.
Kaden Davis’ second catch that turned the Browns around:
Tyler Huntley pass to the right to Toa Taua for 9 yards to the Car15. Tackled by Jaden Crumedy.
Shedeur Sanders deslumbra con un gran debut
Tyler Huntley incomplete pass to the right intended for Gage Larvadain.
Tyler Huntley rush to the right for 9 yards to the Car39.
Tyler Huntley pass to the middle to Chase Cota for 5 yards to the Car48.
Toa Taua rush to the left for 4 yards to the Cle47.
Jack Plummer incomplete pass to the middle intended for James Mitchell.
Jack Plummer incomplete pass to the left intended for David Moore.
Jack Plummer incomplete pass to the right intended for Jimmy Horn Jr..
Jack Plummer incomplete pass to the right intended for David Moore.
Jack Plummer pass to the left to David Moore for 17 yards to the Cle43.
Jack Plummer pass to the left to Trevor Etienne for 14 yards to the Car40.
Dustin Hopkins kicks off to the Car16. Jimmy Horn Jr. return for 10 yards to Car26.
Dustin Hopkins extra point is GOOD.
Jalen Coker’s game-winning catch at Bank of America Stadium:
Gage Larvadain rush to the right for 4 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Trayveon Williams rush to the right for 1 yard to the Car4.
Shedeur Sanders pass to the right to Trayveon Williams for 2 yards to the Car5.
Ahmani Marshall rush to the left for 5 yards to the Car7.
Ahmani Marshall rush to the left for 11 yards to the Car12.
Shedeur Sanders pass to the left to Brenden Bates for 25 yards to the Car23.
Penalty: Illegal Plyr Downfld on Browns (Jason Ivey) -5 yards.
Andy Dalton pass intended for David Moore INTERCEPTED by Nik Needham. No return.
Corey Bojorquez punts for 52 yards to Car31. Trevor Etienne return for 8 yards to Car39. Tackled by LaMareon James.
Penalty: Too Many Men on Field on Panthers 5 yards.
Shedeur Sanders pass to the middle to Sal Cannella for 8 yards to the Cle12.
Shedeur Sanders incomplete pass to the right intended for Brenden Bates.
Penalty: False Start on Browns (Bucky Williams) -4 yards.
Ahmani Marshall rush to the right for 2 yards to the Cle8.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders leaves the field after the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers
Penalty: False Start on Browns (Kilian Zierer) -5 yards.
Sam Martin punts for 44 yards to Cle12. No return.
Andy Dalton pass to the left to James Mitchell for 12 yards to the Car44.
Andy Dalton sacked at Car32 for a loss of 7 yards.
Andy Dalton pass to the right to Jimmy Horn Jr. for a loss of 1 yard to the Car39.
Andy Dalton pass to the right to Dominique Dafney for 11 yards to the Car40.
Andy Dalton incomplete pass to the right intended for Jalen Coker.
Andy Dalton pass to the right to David Moore for 9 yards to the Car29.
LeBron James praised Shedeur Sanders
Corey Bojorquez punts for 47 yards to Car13. T.J. Luther return for 7 yards to Car20.
Shedeur Sanders sacked at Cle40 for a loss of 5 yards.
Trayveon Williams rush to the left for 3 yards to the Cle45.
Shedeur Sanders incomplete pass to the left intended for Chase Cota.
Sam Martin punts for 50 yards to Cle12. Gage Larvadain return for 30 yards to Cle42.
Andy Dalton incomplete pass to the right intended for Jalen Coker.
Andy Dalton incomplete pass to the left intended for David Moore.
Trevor Etienne rush to the middle for 3 yards to the Car38.
Dustin Hopkins kicks off to the endzone. Touchback.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders celebrates after a touchdown pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of a preseason NFL football game
Shedeur Sanders rush for a loss of 1 yard to the Cle18.
Sam Martin punts for 46 yards to Cle19. No return.
Andy Dalton incomplete pass to the left intended for Tetairoa McMillan.
Panthers timeout.
Andy Dalton pass to the right to James Mitchell for 3 yards to the Car34.
Shedeur Sanders connects with Kaden Davis again for another explosive touchdown that ignites the Browns and puts the team in complete control of the game!
Panthers timeout.
Andy Dalton pass to the middle to Raheem Blackshear for 4 yards to the Car31.
Andy Dalton pass to the right to Jalen Coker for 12 yards to the Car27.
Andy Dalton pass to the middle to Mitchell Evans for 5 yards to the Car15.
Dustin Hopkins kicks off to the Car0. Trevor Etienne return for 20 yards to Car20. Penalty: Holding on Panthers (Shemar Bartholomew) -10 yards.
Dustin Hopkins extra point is GOOD.
Shedeur Sanders pass to the middle to Kaden Davis for 12 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Trayveon Williams rush to the middle for 13 yards to the Car12.
Trayveon Williams rush to the middle for 7 yards to the Car25.
Two Minute Warning.
Shedeur Sanders pass to the right to Luke Floriea for 29 yards to the Car33.
Shedeur Sanders pass to the right to Ahmani Marshall for a loss of 2 yards to the Cle38.
Sam Martin punts for 53 yards to Cle25. Kaden Davis return for 17 yards to Cle42.
Andy Dalton pass to the right to James Mitchell for 9 yards to the Car22.
Penalty: Face Mask on Panthers (Yosh Nijman) -15 yards.
Andy Dalton pass to the left to Jimmy Horn Jr. for 4 yards to the Car27.
Trevor Etienne rush to the left for no gain to the Car23.
Corey Bojorquez punts for 44 yards to Car23. Jimmy Horn Jr. – no return.
Shedeur Sanders sacked at Cle33 for a loss of 1 yard.
Shedeur Sanders incomplete pass to the middle intended for Gage Larvadain.
Ahmani Marshall rush to the left for a loss of 3 yards to the Cle34.
Shedeur Sanders rush to the middle for 1 yard to the Cle37.
Shedeur Sanders incomplete pass to the right intended for Chase Cota.
Shedeur Sanders rush to the right for 9 yards to the Cle36.
Shedeur Sanders pass to the middle to Gage Larvadain for 18 yards to the Cle26.
Penalty: Illegal Shift on Panthers (Brycen Tremayne) -5 yards.
Shedeur Sanders pass to the left to Gage Larvadain for 4 yards to the Cle13.
Ahmani Marshall rush to the middle for 3 yards to the Cle9.
Sam Martin punts for 57 yards to Cle4. Luke Floriea return for 4 yards to Cle8. FUMBLE, recovered by Cle (Luke Floriea).
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws his first touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.
Andy Dalton sacked at Car39 for a loss of 10 yards.
Andy Dalton pass to the left to Jimmy Horn Jr. for 2 yards to the Car49.
Penalty: Holding on Panthers (Brandon Walton) -10 yards.
Andy Dalton pass to the right to Jimmy Horn Jr. for 9 yards to the Cle43.
Andy Dalton pass to the right to Rico Dowdle for 20 yards to the Car48.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL preseason game.
Andy Dalton incomplete pass to the left intended for Tetairoa McMillan.
Rico Dowdle rush to the left for 3 yards to the Car28.
Dustin Hopkins kicks off to the Car11. Raheem Blackshear return for 14 yards to Car25.
Dustin Hopkins extra point is GOOD.
Shedeur Sanders pass to the left to Kaden Davis for 7 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Ahmani Marshall rush to the left for 3 yards to the Car7.
Corey Bojorquez punts for 43 yards to Car16. Trevor Etienne – no return. FUMBLE, recovered by Car (Krys Barnes).
Shedeur Sanders incomplete pass to the right intended for Sal Cannella.
Shedeur Sanders pass to the right to Jamari Thrash for a loss of 2 yards to the Cle41.
Ahmani Marshall rush to the left for 5 yards to the Cle43.
Ahmani Marshall rush to the right for 6 yards to the Cle38.
Shedeur Sanders pass to the right to Brenden Bates for 5 yards to the Cle32.
Matthew Wright kicks off to the Cle3. Luke Floriea return for 24 yards to Cle27.
Matthew Wright extra point is GOOD.
Bryce Young pass to the right to Jalen Coker for 5 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Bryce Young shined with his own light and defeated Tetairoa McMillan in a duel full of talent and dedication.
Bryce Young incomplete pass to the left intended for Tetairoa McMillan.
Rico Dowdle rush to the middle for 3 yards to the Cle5.
Bryce Young pass to the left to Adam Thielen for 10 yards to the Cle8.
Bryce Young pass to the left to Tetairoa McMillan for 13 yards to the Cle18.
Rico Dowdle rush to the right for 1 yard to the Cle31.
Penalty: Offside on Browns (Isaiah McGuire) 5 yards.
Chuba Hubbard rush to the left for no gain to the Cle37.
An incredible tackle electrified the game, showcasing the defender’s brute strength and impeccable technique.
Chuba Hubbard rush to the middle for 7 yards to the Cle37.
Bryce Young pass to the right to Tetairoa McMillan for 29 yards to the Cle44.
Shedeur Sanders incomplete pass to the right intended for Luke Floriea.
An incredible play by the Cleveland Browns sparked euphoria in the stands, combining precision, speed, and perfect execution.
Shedeur Sanders pass to the middle to Jamari Thrash for 11 yards to the Car26.
Shedeur Sanders incomplete pass to the left intended for Dylan Sampson.
Kaden Davis rush to the right for a loss of 2 yards to the Car37.
Shedeur Sanders rush to the right for 10 yards to the Car35.
Dylan Sampson rush to the middle for 1 yard to the Car45.
Shedeur Sanders incomplete pass to the right intended for Diontae Johnson.
Shedeur Sanders pass to the right to Trayveon Williams for 15 yards to the Car46.
Sam Martin punts for 54 yards to Cle34. Luke Floriea return for 5 yards to Cle39.
Bryce Young sacked at Car12 for a loss of 2 yards.
Bryce Young incomplete pass to the left intended for Chuba Hubbard.
Chuba Hubbard rush to the middle for 5 yards to the Car14.
Corey Bojorquez punts for 62 yards to Car7. Raheem Blackshear return for 2 yards to Car9.
Shedeur Sanders pass to the right to Kaden Davis for 4 yards to the Cle31.
Shedeur Sanders incomplete pass to the right intended for Diontae Johnson.
Dylan Sampson rush to the right for 5 yards to the Cle27.
Matthew Wright kicks off to the Cle7. Kaden Davis return for 15 yards to Cle22.
A grand entrance to the field ignited the atmosphere, with the players advancing to the roar of the fans.
A series of photos captured Cleveland Browns players in the moments before their preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.
Tetairoa McMillan is ready to experience his first chapter of preseason, a moment that will mark the beginning of his journey in professional football.
Cleveland Browns players are getting ready to take the field with the intensity and focus that preseason demands, fine-tuning every detail.
The Carolina Panthers have issued a clear and forceful warning
Everything is set for Shedeur Sanders to take the field and make his long-awaited preseason debut, a moment that has generated great anticipation among fans and analysts alike. The young quarterback arrives with the perfect opportunity to showcase his talent, leadership, and poise under pressure.
Shedeur Sanders made his long-awaited arrival for his preseason debut, displaying a calm and confident attitude that reflects his competitive maturity.
Sports legend Deion Sanders didn’t hesitate to express his complete confidence in his son’s talent and character ahead of the upcoming matchup between the Carolina Panthers and the Cleveland Browns.
Carolina Panthers vs. Cleveland Browns
American football is back. Although it’s only the 2025 NFL preseason, teams are taking advantage of this period to evaluate their rosters for the regular season. The Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns are two franchises in the midst of rebuilding after several years of poor results.
On the Panthers’ side, new head coach Dave Canales is taking a more aggressive approach. Starters will play, and that includes second-year quarterback Bryce Young. After a tough rookie campaign, Young looked sharper late in 2024 and has built on that in training camp.
“He’s got a real command of what we’re doing now,”Canales said during Tuesday’s press conference, as reported by The Charlotte Observer.“We want to get him comfortable in live reps.”
Helping him along is rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan, the team’s first-round pick in April. At 6’5″, McMillan has already made his presence known in camp. Tonight, he’ll get to show how that size and catch radius translate against live coverage.
On defense, Carolina plans to roll out its starting unit for at least a series or two–giving Sanders a tough welcome to the NFL.
Sure, it’s the preseason. But this one carries weight. For Cleveland, it’s about finding out if Sanders can rise quickly and who among the rookies and fringe players can earn a roster spot. For Carolina, it’s about building confidence and chemistry in a team that’s expected to turn things around after a 5-12 season.
There won’t be a trophy on the line–but for the guys on the field tonight, there’s plenty at stake.
Stay tuned to MARCA in English for live updates, highlights, and full postgame analysis from Charlotte.
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Here we share our coverage of all the key moments from the exciting duel between the Browns and the Panthers.