Browns to name starting QB ahead of preseason finale amid battle in Cleveland
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski plans to name a starting quarterback for Week 1 ahead of the team's final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams next Saturday, the team announced on Sunday. It's unclear when that will be announced specifically, but Stefanski said the team is using this week as a dress rehearsal for the regular season.
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"We will do more competitive periods than we would say in the regular season," Stefanski said, via the Browns. "So, we'll do plenty of Browns versus Browns in practice, as well as introducing carded periods where we'll be simulating the Rams' offense and defense. So big week for the football team."
The Browns, who are fresh off a 22-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in their second preseason game, will officially open the season against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.
Who will the Browns name their starting QB?
Though the room has been hit with several injuries that have altered the competition, the quarterback battle in Cleveland has been among the most interesting across the league so far this preseason.
It started out as a four-man race, though veteran Joe Flacco has taken the majority of first team reps in recent practices and has appeared to have separated himself from the pack. Flacco returned to the Browns this season after spending last year with the Indianapolis Colts.
Kenny Pickett, who seemed to have the early advantage in the race, has been battling a hamstring injury for several weeks now and has still been limited in practices. He hasn't taken 11-on-11 reps since going down on July 26.
The Browns also picked up two rookie quarterbacks in the NFL Draft earlier this year. They selected former Oregon star Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Colorado standout Shedeur Sanders in the fifth. Sanders started the team's preseason opener, but he went down with an oblique strain last week. He did not play in the Eagles' preseason game on Saturday.
Gabriel, who missed the first game with a hamstring injury, started on Saturday. He went 13-of-18 for 143 yards with two turnovers in the win. Tyler Huntley came in to replace him to finish the game.
Stefanski said he was hopeful that both Sanders and Pickett would be able to increase their productivity in practice this week amid their respective injuries, but it's unclear when either of them will be back to full strength. Gabriel is healthy again, but he wasn't outstanding on Saturday. That leaves Flacco, who has undoubtedly proven himself time and again throughout in his career. He's due to turn 41 in January, however, and is not a long-term solution in Cleveland by any means.
Whether Stefanski opts to go with Flacco or one of the younger quarterbacks still remains to be seen. At least an answer there is imminent.
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