Browns first preseason game is all about Shedeur Sanders

Driving the news: The Browns will travel to Carolina for the game, which airs on local ABC affiliate WEWS News 5 and NFL Network at 7pm.

Catch-up quick: Cleveland selected Sanders in the fifth round after having made Dillon Gabriel the third-round pick.

• Sanders, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, has spent training camp competing with Gabriel, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett for the starting spot.

State of play: Gabriel and Pickett are recovering from hamstring injuries, while Flacco, currently listed as QB1 on the depth chart, doesn't require many preseason reps at age 40.

• Previous starter Deshaun Watson is on the physically unable to perform list as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon and could miss the entire season.
• Cleveland signed quarterback Tyler Huntley as a backup option, but Sanders will start under center Friday.

Between the lines: The Browns will rest starters, but Carolina will play its top guys.

What they're saying: "[Shedeur's] excited and he knew he was going to play a good bit in these preseason games," head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday.

• "So, the competitor in him is very excited."

The bottom line: Sanders has a massive opportunity to not only silence critics, but show Stefanski he could be the answer to the Browns' QB woes.