Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett (hamstring) will not play in the team's preseason finale on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. Pickett suffered a hamstring injury in late July and finally returned to practice in a limited fashion this week. The 27-year-old will end up missing the entire preseason. The Browns named veteran Joe Flacco as their Week 1 starter under center earlier this week, so if Pickett is healthy enough to be cleared for the regular-season opener against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7, he will most likely be the backup. However, since Pickett has been sidelined for most of camp, it's also possible that one of rookies Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders (oblique) handle backup duties early on. The Browns QB situation is a mess behind Flacco and should be ignored by fantasy managers.
Aug 20, 2025 5:41 PM EST
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that quarterback Kenny Pickett (hamstring) would do some team drills at practice on Tuesday for the first time since injuring his hamstring on July 26. It's progress for Pickett, but he was still limited in practice. The Browns officially announced on Monday that veteran Joe Flacco will be their starting signal-caller going into Week 1 of the regular season, so at best, the 27-year-old Pickett will be Cleveland's QB to begin the year if he can get over his nagging hamstring injury in the next two weeks. It would help his cause if he gets cleared to play in the preseason finale on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams. If Pickett isn't healthy enough to be Flacco's backup in the season opener, that job will fall to one of rookies Shedeur Sanders (oblique) or Dillon Gabriel. It's why the Browns are considering carrying four QBs on their initial 53-man roster.
Aug 19, 2025 6:32 PM EST
Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said he is "hopeful" quarterbacks Kenny Pickett (hamstring) and Shedeur Sanders (oblique) will increase their practice participation this week as they recover from injuries. Pickett, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury since late July, said he feels like he is "turning the corner" and was able to do more running in recent days. Sanders impressed in the team's first preseason win against the Carolina Panthers, going 14-for-23 for 138 yards and two touchdowns before suffering an oblique injury that sidelined him for the second preseason game. The two are in a four-way battle with rookie Dillon Gabriel and veteran Joe Flacco for the starting quarterback position.
Aug 17, 2025 3:33 PM EST
Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett (hamstring) is still limited at the team's training camp practice on Thursday, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Pickett injured his hamstring back on July 26 and has not practiced with the rest of the team since then. Although the Browns haven't made any final decisions on the QB battle, it's a near certainty that veteran Joe Flacco will be anointed the Week 1 starter eventually. In addition to Pickett, rookies Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) and Shedeur Sanders (oblique) are also dealing with injuries, although it's expected that Gabriel will start the second preseason game on Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Pickett could be back with the rest of the team by the end of this week, as he has been participating in seven-on-seven drills. The 27-year-old appears ticketed for the backup role to Flacco to begin the 2025 regular season.
Aug 14, 2025 12:05 PM EST
Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett (hamstring) remained limited to seven-on-seven drills during training camp practice on Wednesday, according to Browns beat writer Kelsey Russo. Pickett entered training camp as the primary competition for veteran Joe Flacco for the starting role entering Week 1, but he injured his hamstring on July 26 and hasn't taken part in team drills since then. He also missed the preseason opener last Thursday and probably will not play this Saturday in the second preseason contest versus the Philadelphia Eagles. It doesn't sound like it's an injury that will keep Pickett sidelined into the regular season, but he's effectively already lost the QB battle to Flacco. The Browns have one of the weakest and most beat up QB rooms in the league with rookies Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) and Shedeur Sanders (oblique) also nursing injuries.
Aug 13, 2025 6:59 PM EST
Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett (hamstring) remains limited to seven-on-seven drills in practice, according to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. Pickett has been battling a hamstring strain since late July. He's still technically in the race to be the Browns' Week 1 starting quarterback, but all indications are that veteran Joe Flacco is the heavy favorite to win the job. With Pickett and rookie Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) both unavailable for the Browns' first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, Shedeur Sanders was the team's starting quarterback. Gabriel is participating in 11-on-11 drills in practice on Monday, so he could be in line to get his first preseason action against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday.
Aug 11, 2025 11:30 AM EST
Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Kenny Pickett (hamstring) and Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) will not play in the team's preseason opener this Friday against the Carolina Panthers, per Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. In addition, the Browns will hold out veteran Joe Flacco, which means rookie fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders will make the start and share QB duties with the recently-signed Tyler Huntley. Although nothing is official yet, Flacco is now the strong favorite to be named Cleveland's starting QB heading into Week 1 of the regular season. Both Pickett and the rookie Gabriel have been held out of team drills the last few days with hamstring injuries, and the minor ailment has really put a dent in Pickett's chances of winning the QB competition. It's unclear if both Pickett and Gabriel will be ready to go for the second preseason game on Aug. 16 versus the Eagles.
Aug 6, 2025 12:09 PM EST
Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Kenny Pickett (hamstring) and Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) are both limited during team drills at Monday's training camp practice due to hamstring injuries, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders (shoulder), who was held out of team drills on Saturday with shoulder soreness, is a full-go. Gabriel had seen increased snaps overall and with the first-team offense last week, but he'll take a step back to let his hamstring heal. The 24-year-old Gabriel's injury doesn't appear to be serious, so he should be back on the field sooner than later. Gabriel and Sanders don't really have a realistic chance to win the starting QB job in 2025, and they are merely trying to prove they are good long-term investments for the Browns. Pickett's hammy injury has increased the odds that veteran Joe Flacco will win the QB job to begin the season.
Aug 4, 2025 3:13 PM EST
Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett (hamstring) will return to practice on Friday in a limited capacity, according to Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. Pickett has been out of action since leaving the team's practice on July 26 after suffering a hamstring injury. Pickett is battling veteran Joe Flacco for the starting quarterback role in Cleveland, with rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders also on the fringes of the QB1 competition. A former first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pickett spent 2024 serving as the backup to Jalen Hurts with the Philadelphia Eagles. He got into five games (one start), completing 59.5% of his passes for 291 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Reporting indicated that Pickett was trailing Flacco even before getting injured, so he needs to get back to full strength as quickly as possible.
Aug 1, 2025 2:23 PM EST
Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett (hamstring) left the team's Saturday practice with a hamstring injury, and head coach Kevin Stefanski would not disclose the severity of the injury when meeting with the media on Monday. Stefanski reportedly said that Joe Flacco will handle the majority of first-team reps for the team in the immediate future, according to Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand. Pickett is in a competition with Flacco and rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders for the starting job in Cleveland, but this injury threatens to set him back. In five games (one start) for the Philadelphia Eagles last season, Pickett completed 59.5% of his passes for 291 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. A former first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, Pickett may be getting his last chance to prove himself as a starter with Cleveland. He'll need a quick recovery to beat out Flacco for the job heading into the regular season.
Jul 28, 2025 2:59 PM EST
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett (hamstring) was injured toward the end of Saturday's practice. He will be re-evaluated "later this week." The signal-caller, who was traded to the Browns in March, has looked good throughout training camp, appearing to have an early lead for the starting quarterback job. However, Joe Flacco may handle most of the first-team reps in the interim, with Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in line for more work. Pickett has appeared in 30 regular-season contests combined for the Steelers and Eagles during his career, throwing for 4,765 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions while completing 62.4% of his attempts and adding five scores on the run. All things considered, any Browns quarterback, regardless of who starts, won't draw attention from managers in fantasy drafts heading into Week 1.
Jul 27, 2025 6:06 PM EST
The Akron Beacon Journal's Chris Easterling reports that Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett spent most of the day on Wednesday in the first training camp practice working with the first-team offense, at least during 11-on-11 drills. However, Pickett went second behind veteran Joe Flacco during modified 7-on-7 work. The Browns have a QB competition going this summer, which is expected to come down to Pickett and Flacco, with rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders mainly looking to prove that the Browns should keep them around beyond 2025. Pickett and Flacco will most likely rotate work with the first team in the early portions of camp. Pickett has mostly been unremarkable in offseason workouts, and Flacco is the favorite to begin the year as the starting QB in Cleveland.
Jul 23, 2025 8:18 PM EST
Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett lined up with the first-team offense during Wednesday's walkthrough practice, according to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. The former first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers spent last season as Jalen Hurts' backup in Philadelphia but figures to be the favorite to win the QB1 job in Cleveland. Joe Flacco was next in line for reps as expected. While the Browns' quarterback room appears crowded heading into 2025, Pickett is likely the best bet to begin the season as the starter. Third-round and fifth-round rookie QBs Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders could be competing for the QB3 role behind Flacco. Ultimately, we could see two or three quarterbacks make a start for the Browns next season, but none are likely notable fantasy football options in single-QB leagues.
May 28, 2025 3:37 PM EST
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that the Cleveland Browns will not pick up quarterback Kenny Pickett's fifth-year option. It isn't a surprise, considering Pickett hasn't exactly shown out when given the chance. The 26-year-old is on his fourth team in four seasons after the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him No. 20 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Pickett played second fiddle to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts last season, appearing in five games, though he only attempted a pass in three of them. In two seasons with the Steelers, the Pittsburgh product put together an underwhelming 4,474-yard line on a 63% completion percentage with a 13:13 TD:INT ratio in 25 games (24 starts). He may get a shot at some in-game action this season, but it's difficult to tell when (or if) that may be due to the presence of veteran Joe Flacco and recently acquired draftees Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.
Apr 28, 2025 4:10 PM EST
On Saturday, Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the plan is for him to be the team's starting quarterback in 2025. "I'm not going there to hang out. I want to go play. I'm excited, been working hard for it, taking it a day at a time." Pickett looked to be on his way to the starting gig with the news that teammate Deshaun Watson (Achilles) could miss all of next season after rupturing his Achilles tendon again. Now, he'll incur some competition courtesy of veteran Joe Flacco. The 26-year-old struggled during his two-year stint as a Steeler but gained valuable experience with the Philadelphia Eagles during their Super Bowl run in 2024. Pickett will be awarded the starting job if he can beat out the aging veteran. Still, it isn't a foregone conclusion that the Browns won't continue to add arms with uncertainty surrounding Watson's status. The Cleveland QB situation will be one to monitor.
Apr 13, 2025 4:15 PM EST
When asked about the team's current quarterback situation, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said, "I feel good. Obviously it's March 31, so there's still a draft to be had. It's not August 1. I will say this: Kenny Pickett's a guy that I believe in, that we believe in. So we'll see how it all shakes out." A lot can still happen between now and this month's NFL draft, including a potential trade for Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins, but we find it hard to believe that Cleveland would be happy going into Week 1 of the 2025 season this fall with Pickett as their starter. The team is saying they won't trade up to No. 1 overall to select Miami QB Cam Ward in the draft, but it would be a surprise if they don't take Colorado's Shedeur Sanders at No. 2 overall or another signal-caller later in the first round if they trade back. At the very least, though, Pickett, a former first-rounder, should have a chance to compete for the starting gig this summer.
Apr 2, 2025 10:54 AM EST
Veteran quarterback Kenny Pickett was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Cleveland Browns this week in a deal that sent Dorian Thompson-Robinson to Philly. Pickett is now back in the AFC North after spending his first two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former first-round pick said he views himself as a starter with his new organization. The 26-year-old has a 15-10 record as a starter behind 4,765 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions with the Steelers and Eagles. With Deshaun Watson (Achilles) unlikely to play in 2025, there's a real chance Pickett will compete for the starting job, but the Browns are likely to add more competition via free agency or the 2025 NFL Draft.
Mar 13, 2025 2:37 PM EST
The Cleveland Browns are acquiring quarterback Kenny Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in exchange for quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round draft pick, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. With Deshaun Watson (Achilles) unlikely to be ready to play at all in 2025 after suffering a setback with his torn Achilles, Pickett is expected to compete for the starting job in Cleveland this summer in training camp and the preseason. Veteran Jameis Winston made starts for the Browns after Watson went down last year, but he's an unrestricted free agent and isn't expected to return. Cleveland could add another veteran QB via trade or free agency to compete with Pickett, but they are also fully expected to draft one with the No. 2 overall pick in April. Pickett, a former first-rounder by the Steelers, has thrown 15 TDs and 14 interceptions in his 30 games (25 starts) in his first three years. He'd be a low-end QB2 option in superflex leagues if he's starting for the Browns in 2025.
Mar 10, 2025 6:07 PM EST
Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Kenny Pickett (ribs) was limited in practice all week but was removed from the final injury report on Friday and will be available for Sunday's wild-card matchup against the visiting Green Bay Packers. Jalen Hurts (concussion, finger) was also cleared from the league's concussion protocol after he missed the final two games of the regular season, so Pickett will be back as Hurts' backup this weekend. Obviously, Pickett won't have any fantasy value whatsoever in the playoffs unless Hurts is injured again. The 26-year-old former Pittsburgh Steelers QB suffered broken ribs in Week 16's loss to the division-rival Washington Commanders and was pulled from his start in the Week 17 blowout win over the division-rival Dallas Cowboys before not playing in Week 18. In his five games (one start) in 2024, Pickett went 25-for-42 with 291 yards, two TDs and one interception.
Jan 10, 2025 6:32 PM EST
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (ribs) was limited in practice for the second day this week on Thursday. Pickett suffered fractured ribs while filling in for the injured Jalen Hurts (concussion) in the Week 16 loss to the division-rival Washington Commanders and made the start in Week 17, but he gave way to third-stringer Tanner McKee in the Week 18 regular-season finale. Hurts returned to a full practice on Thursday and is on pace to return this Sunday for the wild-card playoff game against the visiting Green Bay Packers, but it remains to be seen if Pickett will be healthy enough to serve as Hurts' backup. The 26-year-old is unlikely to carry any fantasy value into the postseason unless Hurts suffers another injury. The former first-rounder saw action in five games (one start) in his first year in Philly in 2024 and went 25-for-42 for 291 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Jan 9, 2025 6:19 PM EST
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