Colorado Buffaloes football legend Shedeur Sanders may have gotten the break he needed at the Cleveland Browns’ training camp, though it came in a way the “Grown QB” wasn’t hoping for.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced on Sunday that Pickett was injured and that Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Joe Flacco are all in line to see more snaps.
“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,” Schefter wrote.
With this news, the Browns’ plan to have Pickett serve as a mentor to Sanders and Gabriel while boosting his trade value for a potential trade may be foiled.
“Pickett has some NFL exposure, but he admitted during mandatory minicamp his minimal experience with the play-action and under-center concepts that Stefanski likes to call. Pickett’s comfort with those concepts grew during offseason installations, and the knowledge he does have at the pro level he not only used but also shared. Sanders looked to Pickett for guidance on marrying footwork correctly with reads, and discerning when a play calls for a three-step drop compared to a five or seven,” Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein wrote.
“If Pickett can convince the Browns he’s as ready to thrive in Week 1 as Flacco (or close), he could win that job as the Browns can gain more future upside by investing snaps into a 27-year-old than a 40-year-old. Pickett could also be a candidate for trade bait if Flacco seems healthy and Gabriel is ready for backup duties.”
Sanders still has practically no chance of winning Cleveland’s quarterback competition.
Gabriel could be the new QB1 favorite based on his strong play all summer, while Flacco is still viewed by many as the favorite.
Perhaps the CFL won’t come calling now with one fewer QB in Berea.