In the wake of Saturday’s Cleveland Browns practice, the quarterback battle, already the most talked-about storyline of their offseason, just took a turn.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Pickett is at least a short-term scratch for a while.
“Browns QB Kenny Pickett injured his hamstring near the end of Saturday’s practice and is expected to re-evaluate the injury later this week, per sources. Pickett was coming off a strong couple of practices, per sources, and at least for the short term, there now will be more reps for Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.”
It’s a shift that, whether intentional or not, forces head coach Kevin Stefanski’s hand and gives Sanders a long-overdue chance.
The Browns created this problem themselves. Passing on Sanders repeatedly during the draft when the rest of the league seemed to conspire against the star quarterback, only to select him in the fifth round, felt more like a reluctant compromise than a strategic pick.
And ever since then, the Browns haven’t exactly embraced him.
What’s worse is that Sanders might be the only reason Cleveland is even relevant right now.
His name moves the needle. His college resume speaks for itself. And by all accounts, he hasn’t been seen dancing like someone else has. He’s looked poised, accurate, and commanding in every practice he’s participated in.
And yet, through the start of training camp, he hadn’t taken a single snap with the first team.
I don’t think this is about football more than it is about pride.
It’s hard not to believe this is a matter of pride. Kevin Stefanski, a coach often referred to as a quarterback guru, seems hesitant to open the door for Sanders fully.
Why? Because doing so would mean admitting they were wrong about him. That the player the NFL conspired to make a fool of actually makes a fool out of them instead.
Shedeur didn’t come to Cleveland as the organization’s chosen one. He came in with this chip that the NFL had to humble him, and he has just played the game. He has let his play do all the talking.
Meanwhile, Joe Flacco has been talked about like it’s 2012 again, and he is going to save the franchise. But let’s be honest, Flacco isn’t the long-term solution. “Tiny hands” Pickett, now injured, hasn’t yet proven to be either. So what’s left?
With Pickett sidelined, Stefanski no longer has a reason to avoid giving Sanders real opportunities. If the young QB continues to look as sharp as he has in second-team action, especially with more reps coming his way, the noise from fans and media alike will only grow louder.
Eventually, the chants will come. Cleveland has seen this story before. And this time, they might already have the answer waiting on their sideline.
That name is Shedeur Sanders.