How Browns reportedly will react to Kenny Pickett injury

Multiple reporters noted ahead of the weekend that veteran Joe Flacco and 2022 first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett were essentially competing only against each other for the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback job as part of a battle that also allegedly involves rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.

Thus, some understandably wondered if the Browns would sign a different signal-caller after Pickett suffered a worrisome hamstring injury on Saturday. However, team insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer shared on Monday that a source revealed Cleveland "won’t sign another quarterback in the wake of" Pickett's setback.

"Pickett, who suffered the hamstring injury in a drill on Saturday, will likely miss the whole week of practice and be re-evaluated at the end of the week," Cabot continued. 

It's unclear if Pickett will be able to participate in the Aug. 6 joint practice with the Carolina Panthers or in Cleveland's preseason opener at the Panthers on Aug. 8. If he can't, it's possible that Gabriel and Sanders will take all of the snaps against Carolina. 

Flacco's status for Cleveland's preseason games is somewhat up in the air with Pickett out of action. Flacco is a one-time Super Bowl MVP who is 40 years old and who played in the offense run by head coach Kevin Stefanski during the 2023 season. Thus, it's assumed Flacco won't need preseason reps to be ready to start Cleveland's Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. 

Meanwhile, the Browns didn't hide that Sanders was their fourth-choice option at the position before Pickett was sidelined. Cabot mentioned that Flacco and Gabriel began Monday on track to receive additional first-team reps, while Sanders should get more work with the second-team offense. 

For a piece posted on Sunday night, Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand wrote that Pickett could miss three to six weeks if it's determined he has a moderate Grade 2 hamstring strain. It seems such a scenario could result in Gabriel serving as Flacco's primary backup for the matchup against Cincinnati as long as both are available to play on the first Sunday of September.