Shedeur Sanders may not be ready to be an NFL starting quarterback, but football fans are apparently compelled to watch the Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback play.
According to Yahoo Sports, more than 2 million people tuned in to watch Sanders and the Browns play their preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers last Friday.
An average of 2.2 million people tuned in for the exhibition contest at Bank of America Stadium, making it the largest audience for a preseason game on NFL Network in a decade.
Sanders, of course, wowed those watching by completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He took the majority of offensive snaps under center and was relieved by Tyler Huntley late in the third quarter.
Why Did So Many People Watch Shedeur Sanders and the Browns?
The Browns are becoming must-see TV, in part due to the intrigue surrounding Sanders.
The NFL Draft’s later rounds generated viewers as many wondered where Sanders would land after he fell from first-round prospect to fifth-round pick. Then, after months of speculation how Sanders would play, we all finally got to see the answer — especially as a passer.
“[Sanders] earned an 82.1 PFF overall grade and a 74.5 PFF passing grade, making two big-time throws and no turnover-worthy plays with a 9.1% uncatchable throw rate,” John Kosko of Pro-Football Focus wrote. “His two biggest calling cards in college were his ability to protect the football and his accuracy, and that translated to his first NFL action.”
Plus, Sanders added a level of mobility that some didn’t think we would see.
“As a runner, Sanders (78.9 PFF rushing grade) had two scrambles for 19 yards and two first downs, a quarterback sneak for a first down and a kneel-down,” Kosko wrote. “Rushing wonât be a big part of his game, but he has enough mobility to gain yards with his legs when needed.”
When Can I Watch Shedeur Sanders Again?
Unfortunately, the NFL lost a massive opportunity to collect an even-bigger preseason audience in Week 2.
The Browns are taking on the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday afternoon, and the reigning world champs could have offered a potentially enormous preseason audience. Philly has a larger fan base, plus the hype surrounding Sanders after Week 1 would have drawn even more people to tune in.
Yet, Sanders sustained an oblique injury and will not play against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
âFurther medical testing and examination on Shedeur Sanders revealed an oblique strain,” the Browns statement revealed Wednesday. “He is considered day to day, wonât practice tomorrow and is unlikely to play in the game on Saturday.”
The injury may cost the network — and the Browns — viewers. But it will also give Cleveland the chance to see quarterbacks Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel in action, since each is vying for the team’s starting-QB spot.
So, the next potential chance we have to see Sanders will be in Cleveland’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 23 — assuming Sanders is healthy by then and unless you can attend joint practices before.
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