Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett has lost the Cleveland Browns quarterback battle to Joe Flacco, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced.
Pickett competed in the battle against Flacco, Dillion Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders. While Pickett was the early favorite to win the job, a hamstring injury forced him to miss the first two preseason games, giving him an uphill battle to earning the gig.
Pickett is listed as Flacco’s backup, and the Browns are likely to carry four quarterbacks on their active roster to start the season.
Pickett was Jalen Hurts’ backup last year with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, throwing for 291 yards and two touchdowns in his one start. The Eagles were Pickett’s childhood team growing up, and he got to win a Super Bowl with them. Pickett even entered late in the game when the Eagles were crushing the Kansas City Chiefs.
Over his career, Pickett has played in 30 games, throwing for 4786 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. The Steelers’ first-round pick out of Pitt in the 2022 NFL Draft, Pickett was heralded as a player who could help turn around the franchise after playing next door at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
With Pickett now as Flacco’s backup, the Browns could look to shop him to other teams, as they are unlikely to keep four quarterbacks on the roster in the long-term, especially but both rookies showcasing some quality moments in the preseason.
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