Five takeaways from Browns' preseason opener, including Shedeur Sanders

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The first game of the preseason means the first opportunity to have some real thoughts about the Browns. It's not just practice against themselves, nor is it some controlled environment that takes some of the realness away from even joint practices.

Cleveland opened its exhibition schedule Aug. 8 with a 30-10 win at the Carolina Panthers. Of course, the game will probably be best remembered for being quarterback Shedeur Sanders' NFL starting debut.

The Panthers did play most of their starters for a pair of series in the game. The Browns barely played any of theirs, keeping especially the veterans on the bench.

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That doesn't mean you can't take some things away from what was seen on Friday night in Charlotte. That's what we're going to try to do here with some initial takeaways from preseason game No. 1.

Shedeur Sanders turned on when the lights came on

Did you expect anything else from the son of Deion Sanders? Did you really think that, at best, Sanders was going to make sure his name remained in the quarterback competition after this game?

Sanders himself would tell you he left plays out on the field. That's fine, really. It's a fifth-round rookie who was facing NFL competition in a game for the first time.

Still, 14-of-23, 138 yards, two touchdowns and a 106.8 rating is all pretty good numbers. Definitely the kind of numbers that makes you ask how it does shake things up in the second week of the preseason.

It was only one step, but you saw the things that would make you think Sanders could be a success. The delivery, the desire to make plays and, yes, even the command of the huddle from moment one.

There's things to work on, no doubt. But it's hard not to be fascinated at what the Browns may have uncovered.

Gage Larvadain, Luke Floriea are going to be tough cuts, if they even are

Gage Larvadain and Luke Floriea have been wide receivers who have made sure they're being talked about throughout training camp to this point. The two rookies did nothing to quiet that talk with their first preseason performances.

Larvadain was targeted three times and caught two passes for 23 yards against Carolina. He also averaged 19 yards on two punt returns, and ran for a 4-yard touchdown.

Floriea had to leave the game in the second half with a cramp in his hamstring. Before that, however, he had the highlight of the night, a one-handed catch on a 30-yard pass from Sanders at the two-minute warning in the first half.

There's still a ways to go until the Aug. 26 cutdown date. That a ways to go for both wide receivers to continue to make plays, though, for a position group that's desperate for depth.

Carson Schwesinger, Mason Graham have short but solid debuts

The fact neither No. 5 overall pick Mason Graham nor No. 33 overall pick Carson Schwesinger were out on the field deep into the second quarter speaks to what is expected of them as rookies. That the defensive tackle and linebacker were still able to make plays in that time speaks to what they can ultimately become.

Graham had just one assisted tackle on the night. However, the Michigan product also wasn't out much longer than the first two defensive series.

Schwesinger was out there a little longer before getting to call it a night. He made the most of it with four solo tackles and six total tackles to his name.

Ahmani Marshall makes the most of every carry

Rookie running back Ahmani Marshall doesn't get cheated when he runs the ball. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Appalachian State product may not make the initial roster, but like Floriea and Larvadain, he's going to make it tough to let him go.

Marshall showed that in how he ran the ball against the Panthers, which was an extension of how he has run it all training camp. He's making every yard he gained like an alley fight, finishing with eight carries for 32 yards.

There was also a nifty blitz pickup on Marshall's part on Sanders' second touchdown pass. He stepped up and took on the defender to give the quarterback a little more time to throw.

Dustin Hopkins opens the door just a crack

Somehow, with only two kicks on the night, there were questions about placekicker Dustin Hopkins. The veteran is coming off a disappointing 2024 season, where he finished with a dismal second half of the season.

Hopkins did make the only field goal he tried, a 23-yarder in the fourth quarter. It was the point-after try that he missed that will, if nothing else, make the questions linger for a little bit longer.

Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns preseason 2025: Five things we learned in opener vs. Panthers