CHARLOTTE, N.C. — From the moment news broke that Shedeur Sanders will start tonight’s preseason opener against the Panthers, the national drumbeat began that the Browns are setting him up to fail. How can they throw him into the starting lineup when he has yet to take a snap with the first-team offense?

Tonight’s matchup against the Panthers is important to multiple players, and Dylan Sampson is one of the headliners.

Sanders has been at the bottom of the depth chart throughout training camp, but due to injuries that Pickett and Gabriel have been dealing with, he drew the start against the Panthers. With that being said, Cleveland is playing up Sanders' first preseason starter. On X, the team sent out a two-word message about Sanders and their preseason opener.