Cleveland Browns’ Quarterback Competition Heats Up

The quarterback situation for the Browns is becoming quite busy.

As training camp unfolds in Cleveland, there’s an intense preseason competition among quarterbacks, including rookies Dillon Gabriel and Chedur Sanders, alongside veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett.

It looks like all four of them might be on the roster when the Browns face off against the Bengals on September 7.

On his podcast, ESPN’s Adam Schefter indicated that keeping four quarterbacks on the season-opening roster seems likely. “It’s unusual for a team to draft a quarterback in the middle rounds and then let him go,” Schefter remarked.

He also noted that both rookie quarterbacks probably have a solid chance of making the 53-man roster—assuming they stay healthy. “If injuries crop up, like for Chedur’s shoulder or Kenny’s hamstring, their situation might not look as stable right now,” he added.

The Browns are set to kick off their preseason against the Panthers this Friday, with Pickett and Gabriel both recovering from hamstring injuries.

Interestingly, the team seems hesitant to have the 40-year-old Flacco participate in the preseason games.

A veteran, Tyler Huntley, has also joined the training camp but is not really seen as a serious contender for a roster spot.

Additionally, quarterback Deshaun Watson is dealing with an Achilles issue, sustained last January, which will likely keep him from playing this season.

Having four quarterbacks on an NFL roster is quite rare, as teams typically manage with just two or, at most, three.