CLEVELAND, OH — July 28, 2025
The Cleveland Browns’ ongoing search for stability under center has hit another bump as quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered a hamstring injury during training camp on Saturday, July 26. The setback further complicates an already crowded quarterback competition heading into the 2025 NFL season.
According to the Akron Beacon Journal and first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Pickett sustained the injury near the end of Saturday’s practice session and will be reevaluated later this week. The severity of the injury has not been disclosed, but his status for the remainder of camp is now in question.
Pickett, a former first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, was acquired by the Browns during the offseason in hopes of rejuvenating his career. Despite a rocky tenure in Pittsburgh—averaging 179 passing yards per game with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions over 25 appearances—Pickett had reportedly shown promise early in Browns camp before the injury.
His absence could significantly shift the quarterback dynamics in Cleveland. With veteran Joe Flacco and two rookies—Dillon Gabriel (third-round pick) and Shedeur Sanders (fifth-round pick)—also in the mix, Pickett’s injury opens the door for increased reps and visibility for the younger signal-callers.
Gabriel and Sanders were initially expected to take developmental roles behind the more experienced Flacco and Pickett, but their training camp workloads may now increase as the Browns coaching staff evaluates their potential in real-time action.
The Browns’ quarterback depth chart is now in flux as the team navigates yet another preseason quarterback shuffle—something all too familiar for a franchise long plagued by instability at the position.
Browns Quarterback Depth Chart (as of July 28, 2025):
- Joe Flacco – Veteran presence and early frontrunner
- Kenny Pickett – Injured (hamstring), status TBD
- Dillon Gabriel – Rookie, third-round pick
- Shedeur Sanders – Rookie, fifth-round pick
With Pickett’s timeline uncertain, all eyes will now turn to the upcoming week of practices, where rookies could begin making their case to lead the Browns into the future.
