Kenny Pickett injury update: Adam Schefter reveals troubling news on Browns QB

The Cleveland Browns have one of the bigger, and more interesting, quarterback competitions coming into training camps around the NFL. One in the middle of it, though, could lose some ground this week per the latest on an injury to QB Kenny Pickett.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Pickett suffered a hamstring injury in practice on Saturday with more to come on his status by the end of this week. That would, despite some apparent decent play by him since the opening of camp on this past week, give some additional opportunities to their other three options in Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders.

“Browns QB Kenny Pickett injured his hamstring near the end of Saturday’s practice and is expected to re-evaluate the injury later this week, per sources,” Schefter tweeted out on Sunday afternoon. “Pickett was coming off a strong couple of practices, per sources, and at least for the short term, there now will be more reps for Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.”

Cleveland acquired Pickett in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, with him winning Super Bowl LIX with them as Jalen Hurts’ backup, back in March. The Browns acquired him, for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft, before signing Flacco and drafting both Gabriel and Sanders in April.

Over two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and his one with the Eagles, Pickett has posted 62.4% completion for 4,765 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Most of that came as a starter for the majority during his first two years spent with Pittsburgh after being a first-round pick by the Steelers in 2022. However, his career has taken a turn over the past year and a half with him having been traded twice in the last two offseasons.

Cleveland is looking at Pickett, as well as Flacco, Gabriel, and Sanders, as their possible starting quarterback with DeShaun Watson again being unavailable. The franchise has cycled through options at the position over the past three seasons with these four getting their chances at the job this season, even if in for the short-term.

This doesn’t sound to be too significant of an injury for Pickett with another week after his reevaluation until they open their preseason at the Carolina Panthers on August 8th. That said, with this open of a battle ongoing, any time missed could be a loss for one quarterback while being a chance for the others vying for the job.