Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett reportedly went down with a hamstring injury during Saturday’s training camp session, casting uncertainty over his early momentum in a crowded quarterback competition.
Sources told ESPN that Pickett sustained the injury while rolling to his right and throwing a touchdown during the final red zone drill of the day. The severity of the injury remains unclear and the Browns reportedly expect to re-evaluate him later this week.
Pickett had been making a strong case to become the Browns’ starter, taking a majority of the first-team reps during the opening week of training camp. Browns quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave described his performance in the first two practices as “stellar,” particularly praising his accuracy. Pickett’s early success had seemingly put him ahead in the four-man competition, which includes veteran Joe Flacco and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
The injury now opens the door for the remaining quarterbacks to gain valuable reps. Flacco, entering his 18th NFL season, has rotated with Pickett throughout camp and brings veteran leadership to the position group. Gabriel, a third-round pick out of Oregon, has had limited time with the first team, while Sanders, a fifth-round pick from Colorado, has yet to take any first-team snaps.
Pickett, a 2022 first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, was traded to the Browns in March by the Philadelphia Eagles. Cleveland gave up a fifth-round pick and young quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the deal. With the Browns declining his fifth-year option, Pickett is set to become a free agent after the 2025 season.
–Field Level Media
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