Browns Define Their Quarterback Roster for the Season
BEREA, Ohio – The Cleveland Browns have reduced their quarterback group and defined their backup.
Following Kenny Pickett’s trade to the Las Vegas Raiders and Tyler Huntley’s release, the Browns will face the regular season with three quarterbacks: Joe Flacco as the starter, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Tuesday that Gabriel, selected in the third round of the draft, will begin the season as Flacco’s backup.
Former starting quarterback Deshaun Watson was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. He will miss the first four games of the season while continuing his rehabilitation from an Achilles tendon injury, which is expected to keep him out for most of the season.
Cleveland seemed poised to keep the four quarterbacks competing for the starting position until they traded Pickett on Monday in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2026.
Sanders, a 2025 fifth-round selection who spent the entire training camp as the fourth quarterback on the depth chart, looks like he will be the team’s third QB.
