The Browns are going to play it safe.
Cleveland named Joe Flacco the starting quarterback Monday.
“Joe Cool leading the way,” the Browns official account wrote on X, adding a saluting face emoji.
It took any remaining drama out of the unique quarterback competition that included Kenny Pickett and two rookies in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
Pickett, who’s been limited in practice due to a hamstring injury suffered late last month, is listed as No. 2 on the depth chart on Cleveland’s website.
Shedeur Sanders (left) and Joe Flacco during Browns training camp. AP
Quarterback Kenny Pickett #8 of the Cleveland Browns passes during training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 26, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. Getty Images“I feel like I’m turning the corner a little bit this week, which is really positive,” Pickett said Thursday. “I was able to run a little bit more than yesterday. I’m getting there. Taking it one day at a time.”
The 40-year-old Flacco led the Browns to the playoffs two seasons ago — and was able to secure the starting gig as the other three quarterbacks all battled injuries in training camp.
Gabriel strained his hamstring Aug. 2, and Sanders injured his oblique while throwing in joint practices with the Eagles on Wednesday.
Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns after the preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images
Neither Pickett nor Flacco played in Cleveland’s first two preseason games.
Sanders played well in the Browns’ preseason opener — completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-10 win over the Panthers.
Gabriel saw a majority of the time in the second game, completing 13 of 18 passes for 143 yards and a pick-six interception.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel speaks during a news conference after an NFL preseason football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday, August 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. APVeteran Tyler Huntley, who was signed in the offseason, played as the backup in both games.
It remains unclear how many quarterbacks the Browns plan to start the season with on the active roster.
Cleveland closes out the preseason at home against the Rams on Aug. 23.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters they intend to use the final preseason game of the year as a dress rehearsal of sorts before their opener against the rival Bengals on Sept. 7.
Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws a pass during training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 28, 2025. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectWhen asked who would start at QB for the preseason finale, Stefanski said Sunday, “I want to get through the next couple days, but that’s something that we’re gonna do here sooner than later. … I need to get the football team in here, talk to the players. … We’re working towards Week 1. That’s part of what this week is about, getting our football team ready. So, we’ll make all those determinations in the next couple days.”
Cleveland signed rookie wide receiver Isaiah Bond to a fully guaranteed three-year contract Monday after waiving snapper Brent Matiscik to make room on the roster.
The former Texas and Alabama wideout — once projected to be a Day 2 selection — went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft amid sexual assault allegations brought against him.
He was arrested in April.
The sexual assault case was no-billed, meaning no indictment will be issued, and the 21-year-old Bond faces no further criminal charges, Collin County (Texas) District Attorney Greg Willis said in a statement Thursday to CBS News Texas.
