The preseason debut of Shedeur Sanders last night was something to behold. The QB from the Cleveland Browns saw himself deliver one of the best performances of the night, which earned him praise from a number of American legends.
And among them was also NHL veteran and forward for the Vancouver Canucks, Evander Kane. The left-winger was quick to congratulate the young football player, and his tweet later that night suggests that he was impressed.
Shedeur Sanders Has Impressed Vancouver Canucks’ Evander Kane With His Touchdown
Since being drafted #144 overall in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders has been under some high scrutiny. With his father, Deion Sanders Sr., being a 2x Super Bowl Champion (1995, 1996), Sanders was also expected to succeed.
And last night in his game against the Carolina Panthers, the young QB from Jackson State University did just that. Completing 14 out of his 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdown passes in the first half to Kaden Davis, Sanders was sensational.
And as the Browns edged out the Panthers 30-10 to win the first game of the preseason, Sanders proved that he deserved to be a starter. In the process, he also got compliments from several stars, such as LeBron James and Evander Kane.
Kane tweeted, “Won’t be 4th on the depth chart after tonight ⌚️.” Before the game began, many critics, including ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, believed that adding Sanders as a starter would be a bad decision. But his game on Friday proved otherwise.
Won’t be 4th on the depth chart after tonight ⌚️
— Evander Kane (@evanderkane) August 9, 2025
Kane believes that with such a performance, he won’t remain as the fourth-string quarterback on the Browns roster for long. While veterans Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel still outweigh Sanders, he remains pretty confident after last night.
He mentioned after the game that he isn’t too worried about the depth chart. “When I get out there, it’s just doing what I gotta do,” he said. He continued, “Everything else is not in my hands, so I don’t worry about it. For now, Sanders is simply focusing on his own game.
While his four seasons at Florida made everyone think that he would be a first- or second-round pick, he eventually slid down to the fifth round. But Sanders remains positive. “I just don’t think that deep into everything because it’s nothing you’re going to be able to control,” he mentioned.
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According to him, if he can’t control something, there is no use in putting his time and energy into it. Coach Kevin Stefanski mirrors this feeling. He mentions, “I’m honestly not focused there. I think the guys need to continue to earn their roles. That’s what these guys are doing.”
The Browns will be facing the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, in their next game on August 16. While the Eagles will have the home-field advantage at Lincoln Financial Field, it will be another chance for Sanders to show his mettle.
