However fascinating it has been, the Browns' quarterback battle has been resolved with one preseason game remaining.
On Monday, Aug. 18, Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski named Super Bowl 47 MVP Joe Flacco as the team's starting quarterback for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. The move does not come as much of a surprise, though the QBs behind Flacco on the depth chart made positive impressions during the preseason.
In Cleveland's preseason opener against the Panthers, fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders earned the start with Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel sidelined for various reasons. Sanders impressed with 138 yards and two passing touchdowns on 14-of-23 passing before being spelled by veteran Tyler Huntley late in the third quarter.
Ahead of Week 2, all eyes are again on the QB battle, though Sanders ran into a setback in the form of an oblique injury. With Sanders sidelined, Gabriel completed 13 of 18 pass attempts for 143 yards, though he did also throw an interception.
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Sanders' showing against Carolina wasn't enough to cause movement in the Cleveland QB depth chart, nor was Gabriel's outing in Philadelphia. Here's an updated look at the Browns' QB depth chart.
MORE: The latest on Shedeur Sanders' oblique injury sustained in practice
Browns QB depth chart
The Browns' QB competition effectively ended on Monday, Aug. 18, when Flacco was named the team's Week 1 starter.
| QB | Player |
| 1 | Joe Flacco |
| 2 | Kenny Pickett |
| 3 | Dillon Gabriel |
| 4 | Shedeur Sanders |
| 5 | Tyler Huntley |
| PUP | Deshaun Watson |
PRESEASON DEBUT GRADES: Shedeur Sanders | Dillon Gabriel
1. Joe Flacco
2025 preseason stats: N/A
Flacco is entering his 18th NFL season and remains atop the depth chart ahead of his second Browns stint. The 40-year-old appeared in eight games (six starts) with the Colts last season, completing 162-of-248 pass attempts for 1,761 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
He was held out of the Browns' preseason opener in Carolina, but Flacco's familiarity with the system dates back to 2023, when he posted a 4-1 record as a starter to help the franchise reach the postseason.
2. Kenny Pickett
2025 preseason stats: N/A
Pickett was unavailable for the opener against the Panthers as he continued to work back from a "mild hamstring injury" suffered early in training camp. Ahead of his fourth NFL season, Pickett looks to re-emerge as a starter after starting in 24 games over his first two seasons with the Steelers.
In 25 career starts, Pickett has posted a 15-10 record, throwing for 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
3. Dillon Gabriel
2025 preseason stats (1 game): 13-18, 143 yards, 1 interception, 2 rushing attempts, 1 rush yard, 1 fumble
Cleveland used the 94th overall pick in the third round of this year's draft to select Gabriel out of Oregon. He missed Week 1 of the preseason with "tightness in his hamstring," but took the field in Philadelphia Saturday.
4. Shedeur Sanders
2025 preseason stats (1 game): 14-23, 138 yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 4 rush attempts, 19 rushing yards
Sanders, the 144th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was the first Browns QB to take snaps this preseason. While he impressed with his showing against Carolina, Stefanski declined to speak about the QB competition when asked if Sanders had earned more reps with the Browns' first-team offense.
Sanders suffered an oblique injury during throwing drills on Wednesday, Aug. 13. With the injury coming just three days before Cleveland met with Philadelphia, Sanders missed Week 2.
MORE
- Where Shedeur Sanders' preseason debut grades among other 2025 rookies
- How Shedeur Sanders lit up Panthers after slow start in preseason debut
- The best stats and highlights from Shedeur Sanders' pro debut
5. Tyler Huntley
2025 preseason stats (2 games): 16-21, 122 yards, 1 passing touchdown, 6 rush attempts, 18 rushing yards
This is Year 6 for Huntley, who spent training camp and preseason with the Browns in 2024. As one of just two available quarterbacks in the preseason opener, Huntley completed six passes for 51 yards, including a touchdown toss in the fourth quarter.
With Sanders' injury, Huntley received some first-team reps ahead of the Eagles matchup. He saw a similar workload against the Eagles.
PUP. Deshaun Watson
Watson is expected to miss the entirety of the 2025 NFL season. He started in seven games for Cleveland in 2024, posting a 1-6 record in them.
Browns injury report
Shedeur Sanders
Sanders lands on the injury report after injuring his oblique early in drills on Wednesday, Aug. 13. He was held out of the remainder of practice as a precaution, and his status for Saturday, Aug. 16, is in doubt.
Kenny Pickett
Pickett is working back from a hamstring injury sustained on Saturday, July 26. He has progressed to 7-on-7 work but has not yet done team drills, adding a cloud of doubt around his availability against the Eagles.
Dillon Gabriel
Gabriel has dealt with hamstring tightness but is progressing in his return from the injury report. He has gotten reps in team drills and is on a pathway to returning to the field sooner rather than later.