Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett will be sidelined because of a hamstring injury – potentially opening the door for Shedeur Sanders to stake his claim.
The injury to Pickett is believed to have occurred during a red zone 11-on-11 drill late in Saturday’s practice, multiple reports have suggested.
Coach Kevin Stefanski is expected to address Pickett’s status before Monday’s practice. Pickett, 27, will be evaluated later in the week.
The Browns have their first padded practice on Monday and go for three straight days until taking Thursday off and then practicing on Friday and Saturday. Pickett’s injury means Sanders, who slid down into the fifth round of the NFL Draft earlier this year despite many considering him a top three selection, will get more reps.
Until now, he has been maginalized with Joe Flacco and Pickett leading the race to be named the starting QB for the Browns.
Dillon Gabriel, another quarterback the Browns drafted this year, is also in the running for the starting spot. Cleveland opens the season on Sept. 7 against Cincinnati.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett is having tests on an injured hamstring
Pickett’s injury could well open the door for Shedeur Sanders to stake his claim
Pickett and Flacco have received most of the snaps with the first team during the first four days of practice. Gabriel got some first-team reps while Sanders’ just began getting some second-team work Friday and Saturday.
‘I’m not even going to think about that or have that even in my thought process of why it is,’ Sanders said on Friday about practicing with the third and fourth team.
‘It doesn’t make me feel down or it doesn´t make me feel left out or anything because I know who I am as a person. I know who I am as an individual, and I know what I could bring to this team.
‘I know whenever I get my opportunity, I’ve got to maximize it,’ he said. ‘I just got to think about what I could do to get better even if I´m not getting reps.’
After struggling early in the week, Pickett had his best practice on Saturday that included a couple of touchdown pᴀsses in red zone drills. The coaching staff likes Pickett’s mobility and the ability to create plays on the run.
‘Coaches are looking for the guy that´s consistent, that´s the same guy every day that they can count on. They can call any play and they know that we´ll get them out of a bad play,’ Pickett said on Thursday. ‘If the sH๏τs called and it´s not there, we´ll check it down.’
Pickett was acquired from Philadelphia in March. A 2022 first-round selection by Pittsburgh, Pickett has 25 career starts with 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
