Kenny Pickett Suffers Thigh Injury: Impact on Browns’ Quarterback Competition
Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered a hamstring injury near the end of Saturday’s practice. He is expected to be re-evaluated later this week. Pickett, who was coming off a couple of solid practices, will now leave more opportunities to Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders in the short term. The four quarterbacks are competing for the starting position in the Browns for next season. Pickett, selected in the number 20 position of the 2022 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, took the last snaps of Saturday’s practice in a red zone drill and threw a touchdown on the last play while moving to his right. During the first week of training camp, Pickett shared first-team reps with Flacco, while Gabriel, a third-round pick, also had some reps with the starters. Sanders, a fifth-round pick, has not received any reps with the first-team offense. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski stated that the quarterback rotation would be fluid during the first week of camp and that he and the offensive coaching staff would meet to discuss any changes for the second week. The Browns will hold their first practice with equipment on Monday. Browns quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave called Pickett’s first two practices “stellar.” Before Pickett’s injury, Musgrave predicted there would be no major changes in the quarterback rotation.The Browns traded a fifth-round pick and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to the Philadelphia Eagles for Pickett in March. Cleveland opted not to exercise Pickett’s fifth-year option, which will make him a free agent after the 2025 season.“Next week will be important, and I don’t know if there will be any major changes,” Musgrave said. “I think it will be more of the same. The four guys are progressing very well, and [offensive coordinator] Tommy [Rees] and Kevin are doing a great job of making sure everyone gets their opportunities.”
Bill Musgrave
