Shedeur Sanders can make his mark on Friday night.The Cleveland Browns rookie has jumped up the depth chart and will start his team’s preseason opener, just days after being named the fourth-string quarterback.Sanders will start for the Browns in their preseason opener against the PanthersGettyInjuries in the NFL‘s most crowded room means the 144th pick of the 2025 draft will take the field against the Carolina Panthers.Veteran signal caller Joe Flacco, who is leading the training camp quarterback battle, was never expected to feature in the first preseason game.But the two QBs behind him, and in front of Sanders, were.Kenny Pickett has been named Flacco’s No. 2, but he has been hampered by a hamstring injury and hasn’t been a full practice participant since July 26.Dillon Gabriel, the rookie drafted 50 spots ahead of Sanders, was named third-sting QB — but he is also dealing with a hamstring issue.That means neither will be able to play in North Carolina, and the privilege of opening preseason will instead fall to Sanders.Smith slams Browns decision to start ShedeurStephen A. Smith, though, believes the young star is being ‘thrown to the wolves’.“I think he’s being set up to fail,” the First Take host said Thursday. That’s right.“There’s been 11 practices, if I remember correctly. He’s been playing against the third unit. He’s fourth on depth chart.“And then suddenly you throw him into the starting lineup and he hasn’t had any reps with the first team at all.Critics believe Sanders is being ‘thrown to the wolves’ by the BrownsGettySmith believes the young QB has been ‘set up to fail’X: @FirstTake“Think about that. So you just go throw him to the wolves like that, huh?“If he had first team snaps in practice, I don’t say that… It’s like you want him to fail.”Smith went on to place the blame at the feet of Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, who recently distanced himself from drafting Sanders in shock comments.He continued: “I’m not accusing the coaches of doing this. I’m not accusing the GM of doing this, but that owner, Mr. Haslam, a different animal right there.“He comes out (and says), ‘I had nothing to do with this pick, I didn’t have anything to do with it. That was the GM.’“That’s what he was saying. And I’m saying, really? That’s what we’re doing now?”Haslam has also been criticised for distancing himself from SandersSanders lands praise from Browns iconWhile Smith has warned that Sanders has been left to walk into the lion’s den, Browns legend Joe Thomas believes he’s ready to jump in.“Talking to people in the building, everybody’s been very impressed with Shedeur Sanders and how serious, driven and motivated he is to be great,” Hall of Famer Thomas told 92.3 The Fan.“He’s doing all the things right. Some of the noise you hear on the outside, controversy around how Shedeur is being handled, it’s not the feeling within the building.“He understands the plan too. He doesn’t want to get thrown to the wolves right away, but he wants an opportunity. “He’s made some really nice plays (in camp) and he’s shown up the way that you saw in college.“Now we need to find a way to get him a few more reps, still get Joe Flacco ready to start, but give Shedeur a majority of the No. 2 reps. See how quickly he can grow and learn this offense.”The idea that Sanders could be handed more reps, especially over the likes of Gabriel and Pickett, is no doubt a huge boost in the Browns QB battle.Now, all eyes will be on the 23-year-old to see how he handles a game situation, even though he’ll be leading a second and third string offense against the Panthers and their starters.Smith has been a defender of Sanders but worries he will struggle in preseasonGetty/First TakeNFL's Greatest......Ranking the top 10......Quarterbacks of all-time – Can anyone better Tom Brady?Wide receivers of all-time – Does Randy Moss or Jerry Rice come out on top?Running backs of all-time – Stacking Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith and moreTight ends of all-time – How does Travis Kelce compare?Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our NFL Facebook page, subscribe to our talkSPORT End Zone YouTube channel for all the offseason news, interviews and more