The depth and talent at quarterback heading into the new NFL season has sparked debate over who will ultimately start for Kevin Stefanski and the Cleveland Browns. Kenny Pickett was somewhat sidelined after the injury he sustained on Saturday, which means Shedeur Sanders will be given more reps alongside his two other counterparts.
Although Pickett had been well regarded by the coaching staff, this incident now puts him in a position where he’ll be playing catch-up. It remains to be seen how severe the injury is to determine just how long he’ll be sidelined during training camp.
The news was confirmed by NFL insider Adam Schefter, who, through his official X (formerly Twitter) account, provided more details about this unexpected development at the Browns’ facilities.
“Browns QB Kenny Pickett injured his hamstring near the end of Saturday’s practice and is expected to re-evaluate the injury later this week, per sources,” the insider reported.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett #8 of the Cleveland Browns runs a play during organized team activities at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 12, 2025 in Berea, Ohio.
“Pickett was coming off a strong couple of practices, per sources, and at least for the short term, there now will be more reps for Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders,” Schefter also added.
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Stefanski’s decision: Who will start?
The weekend brought an interesting turn of events at the Browns’ facilities after Kenny Pickett’s injury was revealed following Saturday’s practice. With questions surrounding his return, only three contenders remain in the race for the starting job.
Now, Stefanski is forced to give more reps to veteran Joe Flacco as well as rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. With little certainty over who holds the upper hand, answers will slowly begin to emerge as the days go by.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski talks to quarterback Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns during training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 26, 2025 in Berea, Ohio.
Looking ahead to a new season
The Browns will look to battle in the AFC North, despite the tough competition from their rivals. These are the early challenges they’ll need to face if they want to start the upcoming season on the right foot:
- vs Cincinnati Bengals, September 7th
- @ Baltimore Ravens, September 14th
- vs Green Bay Packers, September 21st
- @ Detroit Lions, September 28th
- @ Minnesota Vikings, October 5th
