The Carolina Panthers are gearing up to host the Cleveland Browns this Friday for their 2025 preseason face-off. With a kickoff time slated for 7 p.m. ET, fans of both teams are preparing to see new strategies and players in action at Bank of America Stadium. For those unable to attend, the game will be broadcast on News 5, as well as streamed on the Panthers' website for fans in the primary market, according to News 5 Cleveland and WCNC. WJZY will also air the match-up, and WRFX 99.7 FM will cover the radio broadcast.
As reported by WCNC, Panthers General Manager Dan Morgan has placed significant bets on quarterback Bryce Young to lead the team, with the second-year coach Dave Canales expressing confidence in the team’s potential for playoff contention. Young is set not only to start in Friday's game but is also looking to take the field with the added pressure of last season’s defensive performances shadowing the team. However, attention isn't solely on the Panthers, as there's a lot riding on the Browns' fifth-round draft pick, Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders is stepping into the spotlight, confirmed to start the game for the Browns. The quarterback situation for Cleveland is uncertain, with Deshaun Watson still recovering from an Achilles injury. The competition between Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, Tyler Huntley, Dillon Gabriel, and Sanders has been a central point of interest, as mentioned in News 5 Cleveland and CBS Sports. Sanders, as the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, carries a weight of expectation into his NFL debut.
Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski told CBS Sports, "Shedeur and Snoop will be the quarterbacks who are playing in this game." Sanders, who is reportedly fourth on the depth chart, will have the opportunity to quickly prove to Stefanski and the Browns' coaching staff that he has the skills to lead the team. His preseason performance can easily determine his standing for the regular season as he competes with a tightly packed quarterback room. In the NFL, the chance to make a name for oneself can often come unexpectedly, and Sanders seems set to seize his under the Friday night lights.
On the other side, the Panthers are hoping to see their revamped defense, plagued by injuries in the previous season, show signs of a turnaround. Rookies Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen are expected to back up starters D.J. Wonnum and Patrick Jones II in a display of the team's budding talent. With these match-ups set to unfold, fans and analysts alike will have plenty to dissect after the cleats hit the turf and the plays begin — especially for a rookie quarterback like Sanders, whose debut might just pivot his professional trajectory.
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