Joe Flacco Named Browns Starter: What It Means for Sanders, Gabriel and the QB Room

The Cleveland Browns ended the suspense Monday, announcing that 40-year-old Joe Flacco will start at quarterback when they open the 2025 season against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.

What began as an advertised four-way competition fizzled into a one-man show. Flacco took the overwhelming majority of first-team reps in camp and never faced serious pressure from Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Kenny Pickett or Tyler Huntley. According to NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo, Flacco was viewed as the clear starter throughout the summer.

Injuries Shaped the Competition

The depth battle took a hit almost immediately. Pickett, entering his fourth year, has been limited since a hamstring injury on July 26. Gabriel, a third-round pick, missed the preseason opener with the same issue. Sanders, drafted in the fifth round, opened the preseason in style — completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-10 win over the Panthers — but suffered an oblique injury ahead of the Week 2 matchup with the Eagles. With Sanders and Pickett sidelined, Gabriel got the nod against Philadelphia, finishing 13 of 18 for 143 yards with a pick-six.

The flashes were there. CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin even ranked Gabriel’s outing as one of the top rookie QB performances of Week 2. Sanders, meanwhile, showed poise and NFL-level throws in his lone appearance, underscoring the potential that made him a high-profile draft pick.

Flacco as the Bridge, Future Still in Question

Flacco revived his career in Cleveland in 2023, going 4-1 as a starter and winning Comeback Player of the Year while guiding the Browns to the playoffs. Now, in his second stint with the team, he provides stability at a position where the Browns tied an NFL record by starting five different quarterbacks last year.

Still, his presence underscores the franchise’s transitional state. Deshaun Watson remains on the physically unable to perform list while recovering from an Achilles injury, and Cleveland invested two draft picks in quarterbacks this year while holding two first-rounders in 2026 — a class expected to be stronger at the position.

General manager Andrew Berry said keeping all four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster is possible, though head coach Kevin Stefanski admitted “it might not be feasible.” Owner Jimmy Haslam has been clear about the need to evaluate the young signal-callers soon: “Absolutely, absolutely. Kevin knows how important quarterback is, and he and Andrew talk about it all the time. It’s a daily, ongoing conversation.”

What Comes Next

The question is less about who starts Week 1 and more about who takes over when Flacco’s time runs out. Gabriel has been groomed with significant practice reps, while Sanders — still viewed as raw but promising — impressed in limited action. Pickett lingers as a possible trade chip, depending on how the roster shakes out.

The Browns open with six straight games against teams that had winning records last season, one of the toughest stretches in the NFL. Flacco’s steadiness gives them a chance to weather that storm, but the long-term search for Cleveland’s quarterback of the future remains very much alive.