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?

The fifth-round pick is trending toward moving up the depth chart this summer after going 14-of-23 passing for 138 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers.

Tyler Huntley, whom the Browns signed on Tuesday, will come off the bench for the Browns during the preseason matchup, which will give Sanders his first chance to throw to receivers Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, Diontae Johnson and David Njoku.