Kenny Pickett struggling what grew to become a lingering hamstring harm on July 26 opened the door for veteran Joe Flacco to emerge because the Cleveland Browns’ beginning quarterback for his or her Week 1 recreation in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.
For an article revealed on Friday morning, Browns reporter Zac Jackson of The Athletic revealed that Flacco is “going to win the Week 1 beginning quarterback job” coming off Cleveland’s joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles this week.
“Flacco has been sharp for 2 weeks, and it’s clear he’s growing an improved sense of timing along with his teammates — particularly (extensive receiver) Jerry Jeudy,” Jackson wrote. “Joint practices are actual work versus unfamiliar opponents, not for fashion factors. However after the Cleveland No. 1 offense didn’t rating a single landing in Wednesday’s follow, that unit scored 5 on the Eagles Thursday. Two got here on trick performs, and most of them have been in pink zone settings, however Flacco threw with confidence.”
Some inside the Browns allegedly wanted Pickett, 27, to win the QB1 gig over the 40-year-old Flacco earlier this summer season. That mentioned, Pickett grew to become a non-factor concerning the competitors after he was sidelined with a hamstring challenge that would maintain him out of action by Cleveland’s preseason finale versus the Los Angeles Rams
on Aug. 23.
Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders generated headlines when he completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland’s 30-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8. Nonetheless, there was no indication he had any probability to leapfrog Flacco on the depth chart even earlier than Sanders suffered an indirect harm that will maintain him from taking part in by the Rams contest.
2025 third-round draft decide Dillon Gabriel missed the Carolina recreation as a result of a hamstring harm however might see loads of motion throughout Saturday’s matchup at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Monetary Area. Even when Gabriel shines in that outing, he virtually actually will start September serving as a backup for Flacco.
“The one factor most clear is that Flacco nonetheless has a cannon,” Jackson added. “And if the Browns are going to steal a few wins within the early a part of their schedule, they’re going to depend on the 18-year veteran flinging it deep.”
As of Friday morning, FanDuel Sportsbook had Flacco as a -310 betting favourite to get the nod for the Cincinnati recreation. Such forecasts present Jackson might be proper in saying the Browns’ quarterback competitors is already over.
