Shedeur Sanders breaks viewership records as rookie QB sparks Browns’ win in highly anticipated debut

Rodney Knuppel

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Shedeur Sanders breaks viewership records as rookie QB sparks Browns’ win in highly anticipated debut image

Shedeur Sanders’ NFL debut came with high expectations, and the results were very positive for him and the team.

The Cleveland Browns’ preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers averaged 2.237 million viewers on NFL Network, making it the most-watched preseason game on the channel since 2015.

It also marked the network’s highest-rated opening week of preseason coverage in its history.

Selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders arrived in the league as one of its most recognizable rookies after four standout years in college under his father, Deion Sanders, at Jackson State and Colorado. Even with his later draft selection, his popularity has rivaled, and in some cases exceeded, that of first-round picks.

Sanders began training camp buried in a deep quarterback room behind veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, as well as fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. But injuries to Pickett and Gabriel, coupled with the decision to rest Flacco, gave Sanders the starting nod in the preseason opener.

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He made the most of it, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. His 113.9 passer rating turned heads across the league and generated a wave of social media attention, including praise from NBA superstar LeBron James.

However, Sanders’ follow-up will have to wait. He suffered an oblique injury during practice this week and is expected to miss the Browns’ next preseason game. The setback limits his opportunities to move up the depth chart before final roster decisions are made.

While the injury is not considered long-term, every missed snap is costly in a quarterback competition. Given the record-setting viewership and his promising debut, the Browns and NFL Network will be eager to see Sanders back on the field as soon as possible.

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Rodney Knuppel

Rodney Knuppel is a freelance writer for The Sporting News. When not watching, listening or writing about sports, Rodney enjoys following the travels of his three kids, who are all active in their own sports and activities. A huge St. Louis Cardinals fan, Rodney also enjoys St. Louis Blues hockey and is a big Kansas Jayhawks basketball fan.