Who Should I Start? Kenny Pickett or Cameron Ward

Wednesday, August 6, 12:09 PM

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.

Wednesday, August 6, 12:52 PM

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said that rookie first-round quarterback Cam Ward and the starters will play in every preseason game. In the team's preseason opener this Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ward and the starters will get a series or two. Even before it was announced that Will Levis (shoulder) would miss all of the 2025 season, Ward, the first overall pick in this year's NFL draft, was fully expected to be the starter entering Week 1. The 23-year-old has had his ups and downs at training camp this summer, but Callahan also said that Ward has shown growth heading into his first NFL season. Ward doesn't have many options to throw to outside of receiver Calvin Ridley, and he wasn't praised for his rushing ability in the pre-draft process, so this will most likely be a learning year for the youngster from Miami. Treat him as a low-end QB2 in fantasy.