Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco is looking good to take the next step in this quarterback competition. He’ll get the first crack with Kenny Pickett hurt. Throughout the early stages of training camp, both Flacco and Pickett had split the bulk of first-team practice reps. Quarterback Kenny Pickett sustained a bad hamstring injury in the waning moments of practice on Saturday. This shift in dynamics now affords Flacco the potential upper hand.
Though an MRI confirmed the severity of Pickett’s injury, no timetable for his return has yet been set. Bye week boost Although Coach Kevin Stefanski would not confirm Pickett’s injury, the coach indicated he was present when Pickett left the practice field. With Pickett now sidelined, the Browns have their own quarterback rotation to reassess going into next week.
It’s the combination of Flacco’s experience and knowledge of the offensive system that puts him in a category all his own. This is particularly crucial, as the team learns to live without their future franchise QB. Adam Schefter explained this transition further on McAfee’s show, noting that Flacco’s veteran presence will grow with Pickett’s situation up in the air.
In the wake of the injury, coach Stefanski said that all quarterbacks would continue to get extra practice reps to keep things competitive. And freshmen Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are eager to make their moves. For one, they’ll only be running the second- and third-team offenses for most of this transitional period.
Shedeur Sanders, formerly a third-round prospect, now a fifth-round pick, faces an important practice slate. How he plays will dictate whether he’s running with the second or third unit over the next few weeks. And now, the Browns’ attention turns to how they will conduct practices going forward without Pickett.
“It’s really dependent on the period, what we’re trying to accomplish in that period and just moving these guys around, giving them some more exposure.” – Kevin Stefanski
The team looks forward to the second phase of training camp. First and foremost, they’ll work to help Flacco make the most of new weapons Gabriel and Sanders. It’s still an ongoing process as they try to figure the path with Pickett’s injury.
As the team prepares for the next phase of training camp, discussions will center around how best to utilize Flacco alongside Gabriel and Sanders. The situation remains fluid as they navigate through the challenges posed by Pickett’s injury.
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