Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco shared his thoughts on Kenny Pickett’s injury during Browns training camp, calling the situation unfortunate as the competition for the starting job intensifies.
Pickett, who joined Cleveland this offseason alongside Flacco, suffered a hamstring strain during practice over the weekend. His absence has reshaped the quarterback dynamics at camp.
“I think there’s worse timing,” Flacco told reporters Monday. “But at any point when you’ve been working so hard, you don’t want to see something like that.” The two quarterbacks have split first-team reps throughout the early days of camp, but Pickett’s injury has now created a window for others to step forward.
Alongside Flacco and Pickett on the Browns’ depth chart are two rookies: Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Both are receiving increased attention amid Pickett’s temporary absence.
Gabriel, who was seen running drills on Monday, has shown improvement, while Sanders turned heads with a strong performance late in the first week of camp. Despite his highlights, including several accurate touchdown passes, Sanders has yet to take snaps with the first-team offense.
New faces in Cleveland
All four quarterbacks are new to Cleveland this year, except for Flacco, who returned after a brief but successful stint in 2023 that led the Browns to a playoff berth. Pickett arrived after short tenures with the Steelers and Eagles, where he made limited appearances.
Now, both quarterbacks are contending to become the team’s full-time starter in the wake of Deshaun Watson’s continued injury concerns.
Watson, who tore his Achilles last season and later re-injured it during rehab, remains out indefinitely. His massive contract still weighs on the Browns’ salary cap, counting nearly $36 million this season. After a 3-14 campaign and a total overhaul of the quarterback room, Cleveland is seeking stability.
Flacco is currently receiving more first-team reps, while Gabriel and Sanders remain in developmental roles. Sanders, the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, has received praise for his accuracy and leadership during camp, but coaches remain cautious about accelerating his transition to the NFL level.
The Browns have made it clear they don’t intend to trade any quarterbacks and plan to let the competition unfold naturally. With their season opener against the Bengals looming on September 9, time is ticking for someone to step up and take control of the offense.
For Flacco, it’s business as usual, but with a dose of perspective: “You never want to see a guy go down, especially one who’s competing as hard as Kenny.”
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