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Panthers routed by Shedeur Sanders, Browns: Highlights from Week 1 of the preseason
The Carolina Panthers started up their 2025 preseason by hosting the Cleveland Browns on Friday night. But unfortunately, the opener resulted in a 30-10 loss for the home squad.
Here are the top highlights from the defeat from this summer's first exhibition outing . . .
Ryan Fitzgerald breaks the Cleveland run - Browns 30, Panthers 10
Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald booted through his first field goal try of the preseason, a 32-yarder late in the fourth. The Browns lead by 20 points with 1:57 left.
Browns score their 30th unanswered point - Browns 30, Panthers 7
With just over six minutes left, Browns quarterback Tyler Huntley hit receiver Cade McDonald for a 6-yard touchdown pass.
Short FG adds to deficit - Browns 24, Panthers 7
Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins capped off a nine-play drive with a 23-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. Cleveland takes a 17-point lead with 13:01 remaining in the game.
Andy Dalton INT leads to third Browns TD - Browns 21, Panthers 7
Veteran Andy Dalton was picked off by Browns cornerback Nik Needham at the 7:44 mark of the third quarter. Cleveland turned the takeaway into a touchdown, as wideout Gage Larvadain scored on a 4-yard run.
Demani Richardson notches a sack
Second-year safety Demani Richardson put an end to Cleveland's first drive of the second half, sacking Sanders for a loss of five yards on a third-and-7. The Panthers, still down 14-7, got the ball back with just under 13 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Shedeur Sanders hits the end zone again - Browns 14, Panthers 7
Sanders led the Browns to another score just before the half. He found wideout Kaden Davis in the end zone for a second time, on a 12-yard strike at the 1:04 mark of the second quarter.
Browns take advantage of rookie mistake - Panthers 7, Browns 7
Panthers rookie running back Trevor Etienne muffed his first punt return of the preseason. Cleveland recovered at Carolina's 10-yard line and proceeded to tie the game up six seconds into the second quarter after a 7-yard touchdown pass from Sanders to wide receiver Kaden Davis.
Bryce Young finds Jalen Coker for a TD - Panthers 7, Browns 0
A nine-play, 73-yard drive by the Panthers ends on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Young to second-year wide receiver Jalen Coker. Carolina leads 7-0 at the 3:36 mark of the first quarter.
Tetairoa McMillan makes his first catch
McMillan, the eighth overall pick of the 2025 draft, is on the board. Young connected with the rookie wide receiver for a beautiful 29-yard gain to start Carolina's second drive.
Bryce Young, Panthers also go three-and-out
Young and the Carolina offense had a rough first possession as well. The third-year quarterback threw an incompletion behind running back Chuba Hubbard on second-and-5 and was then sacked by defensive ends Alex Wright and Sam Kamara for a loss of two yards on third down.
Panthers defense forces three-and-out on Shedeur Sanders, Browns
The first drive of Sanders' highly-anticipated NFL debut did not last long, as the bulk of Carolina's first-team defense forced a three-and-out. Sanders completed one of his two passes for four yards.
What TV channel is Panthers vs. Browns game on today?
TV channel: WJZY-FOX (local) | NFL Network (national)
Streaming: app | NFL+ | Fubo
Broadcast team: Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Jake Delhomme (analyst), Steve Smith Sr. (analyst), Carla Metts (sideline)
Panthers vs. Browns start time
Date: Friday, Aug. 8. 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m. ETThis article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers routed by Shedeur Sanders, Browns in preseason opener
