Head coach Kevin Stefanski relayed Sunday that Pickett (hamstring) could be available for the Browns' regular-season opener against the Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 7, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Pickett did not play in any of the Browns' three preseason games due to a hamstring injury that he suffered in late July. He's on track to be available for Week 1, but his role (if healthy) remains to be seen. Joe Flacco has been named as the Browns' starting quarterback for the start of the regular season, but the backup job is a three-way competition between Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Regardless of who wins the QB2 job, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports that the Browns are comfortable with carrying four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster to begin the campaign.
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Browns' Kenny Pickett: Won't play this weekend
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Pickett (hamstring) won't play in Saturday's preseason game against the Rams, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Pickett returned to practice last week but still hasn't been a full participant. He's merely hoping to open the season as Cleveland's No. 2 QB at this point, with Joe Flacco having been named the Week 1 starter.
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Browns' Kenny Pickett: Takes part in 11-on-11 drills
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Pickett (hamstring) remains limited but took part in team drills at practice Tuesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Pickett saw 11-on-11 reps for the first time since July 26, as his lingering hamstring injury had kept him sidelined. Coach Kevin Stefanski has named Joe Flacco the Week 1 starter for the Browns, but he said Tuesday that a decision on the No. 2 QB role hasn't yet been made, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com. If Pickett can gain full clearance in time to suit up for Saturday's preseason finale against the Rams, it will provide him with a chance to compete with rookies Shedeur Sanders (oblique) and Dillon Gabriel for the top backup spot. Tyler Huntley may also take the field Saturday, but he's expected to be cut when Cleveland finalizes its 53-man roster.
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Browns' Kenny Pickett: Out of starting contention
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Pickett (hamstring) will be contending for a backup role to begin the regular season, as Joe Flacco has been named the Browns' starting QB ahead of Week 1.
Cleveland declared Flacco its starter Monday, leaving Pickett in a competition with rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders (oblique) for the second spot on the team's quarterback depth chart. Tyler Huntley and Deshaun Watson (Achilles) are currently with the Browns as well, though the latter is expected to miss a significant chunk of the 2025 campaign. Which QB wins the No. 2 role could come down to Saturday's preseason finale against the Rams, though Pickett and Sanders are uncertain to participate due to their respective injuries.
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Browns' Kenny Pickett: Hopeful to increase participation
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Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Sunday he's "hopeful" that quarterbacks Pickett (hamstring) and Shedeur Sanders (oblique) will increase their activity level in practice this week, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Pickett was limited to 7-on-7 work during practice last week as he works his way back from a hamstring injury sustained July 26. Sanders has been sidelined since he suffered an oblique injury during practice Wednesday. Stefanski also said Sunday that he plans to name who will be the team's regular-season starter this week, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. Veteran Joe Flacco is likely to win the job given his experience and the distribution of first-team practice reps during training camp. Both Pickett and Sanders did not participate in Saturday's 22-13 preseason win over the Eagles, leaving third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel to start while the 40-year-old Flacco sat out for rest purposes. Quarterback Tyler Huntley currently is on Cleveland's roster as well, but he'll likely be let go if the team keeps Flacco, Pickett, Sanders and Gabriel heading into Week 1.
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Browns' Kenny Pickett: Still limited at practice
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Pickett (hamstring) remained limited at practice Thursday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
On the plus side, Pickett, who remains limited to 7-on-7 work, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com, said Thursday that he feels like he's "turning the corner." As for whether the QB can improve to the point where he can practice fully next week, Pickett acknowledged to Jackson, "I can't say that yet. It will be close." As things stand, Joe Flacco continues to trend toward getting the start Week 1, with Pickett's chances of making a late push for the assignment still hampered by the fact that he's not yet 100 percent back from his hamstring issue.
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Browns' Kenny Pickett: Sits out team drills again
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Pickett (hamstring) participated in 7-on-7 drills Wednesday, but he remains absent from 11-on-11s, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
Pickett continues to manage a hamstring injury sustained July 26, and which at this stage has caused him to miss a majority of training camp reps, as well as Cleveland's preseason opener against the Panthers last Friday. Meanwhile, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports that Joe Flacco has entrenched himself as the clear favorite to open Week 1 as Cleveland's starting quarterback, while Dillon Gabriel has returned to practice after nursing a hamstring issue of his own, and Shedeur Sanders (oblique) exited Wednesday's session due to injury. Saturday's preseason reps against Philadelphia figure to be split between a combination of Gabriel, Sanders and Pickett, with much depending on the health of the latter two players.
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Browns' Kenny Pickett: Won't play Friday
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Pickett (hamstring) participated in 7-on-7 drills during Wednesday's practice, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Per Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site, Pickett won't play in Friday's preseason opener against the Panthers, while the QB's status for the team's Aug. 16 contest against the Eagles is uncertain at this stage. The same applies to Dillon Gabriel (hamstring), with fellow signal-callers Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders and Tyler Huntley handling team drills Wednesday.
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Browns' Kenny Pickett: Suffers injury Sunday
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Pickett sustained a hamstring injury near the end of practice Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Schefter adds that Pickett will be evaluated again later this week, so he'll likely be sidelined for at least a few practices moving forward. It's unclear how he sustained this injury. The 2022 first-round pick has been the first quarterback on the field during the Browns' 11-on-11 sessions so far in training camp. Cleveland is still working through identifying who will be its starting quarterback Week 1, as veteran Joe Flacco and rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel are all believed to have a chance at the job in addition to Pickett. There'll be more reps for these three while Pickett is sidelined for the time being. The Browns' first preseason game is Friday, Aug. 8 versus the Panthers.
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Browns' Kenny Pickett: Will have fifth-year option declined
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The Browns aren't expected to pick up Pickett's fifth-year option, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Cleveland traded for Pickett in a deal that sent Dorian Thompson-Robinson to the Eagles in March, but the organization appears unwilling to commit to giving the former Steeler $22.1 million in guaranteed money by picking up his option. That decision may have been influenced in part by the Browns adding two quarterbacks -- Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders -- via the draft, and the team also re-signed veteran Joe Flacco in mid-April. All four are expected to compete for the Browns' starting QB role during training camp, though Deshaun Watson may have a chance of reclaiming that job when he eventually returns from a ruptured Achilles.
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Eagles' Kenny Pickett: Capable as backup in 2024
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Pickett completed 25 of 42 pass attempts (60 percent) for 291 yards, two touchdowns and one interceptions across five regular-season appearances with the Eagles in 2024. He also rushed nine times for 15 yards and one touchdown, and he fumbled once.
Almost all of Pickett's offensive snaps came in two appearances, Week 16 and Week 17, when he filled in for a concussed Jalen Hurts before being forced off the field due to a ribs injury of his own. Pickett was cleared in time for the start of Philadelphia's playoff run, ultimately playing a backup role behind Hurts en route to the team's Super Bowl LIX victory. He has one year remaining on his deal with the Eagles and figures to reprise his role as Hurts' backup for the 2025 season.
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Eagles' Kenny Pickett: Clear for playoff opener
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Pickett (ribs) was a limited practice participant Friday but doesn't have a designation for Sunday's wild-card game against the Packers.
Pickett operated with a cap on his reps this week due to the rib injury that he sustained Week 16 at Washington and then aggravated Week 17 versus the Cowboys. He yielded the start under center in the Eagles' regular-season finale against the Giants to Tanner McKee with Jalen Hurts in the concussion protocol, but the latter gained clearance from an independent neurologist Friday, ensuring the team's franchise QB will be back this weekend. As a result, Pickett will return to his typical backup role Sunday.
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Eagles' Kenny Pickett: Limited again Thursday
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Pickett (ribs) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.
Pickett maintained his activity level from Wednesday due to the rib injury that has plagued him since a Week 16 loss in Washington. Meanwhile, No. 1 QB Jalen Hurts practiced fully Thursday, but there's been no word regarding whether he's cleared the concussion protocol. As a result, the situation under center remains unsettled for the Eagles ahead of Sunday's wild-card game against the Packers.
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Eagles' Kenny Pickett: Status in question for Sunday
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Pickett (ribs) is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest versus the Giants.
Despite not practicing this week due to a rib injury, Pickett has been given a chance to be available, at the very least, for the Eagles' regular-season finale. With Jalen Hurts (concussion/left finger) out for a second consecutive game, a healthy Pickett likely would be getting the nod under center Week 18, but fellow reserve Tanner McKee relayed to Eliot Shorr-Parks of Sports Radio 94 WIP Philadelphia on Friday that he's preparing for his first NFL start. As a result, Pickett may be McKee's direct backup Sunday or even inactive as the emergency third QB behind McKee and Ian Book, assuming Pickett suits up.
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Eagles' Kenny Pickett: Departs early Sunday
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Pickett exited Sunday's contest against the Cowboys due to a rib injury, EJ Smith of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Pickett came in for Jalen Hurts last Sunday at Washington after the latter suffered a concussion, but the former emerged from that game with a rib issue. While Pickett had some practice limitations this week, he was named the Eagles' Week 17 starting quarterback in place of Hurts, who was ruled out Friday. Pickett was wearing extra protection around his midsection due to the aforementioned injury Sunday, but he took two big hits from Dallas defenders on the first possession of the second half and was unable to finish the drive. Pickett then went to the locker room, yielding QB duties to Tanner McKee.
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Eagles' Kenny Pickett: Starting for Hurts in Week 17
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Pickett will be the Eagles' starting quarterback Sunday against the Cowboys with Jalen Hurts (concussion) ruled out for that contest, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
This comes as no surprise as Hurts hasn't been able to practice since sustaining a concussion in the first quarter this past Sunday in Washington. Pickett stepped in for Hurts thereafter, completing 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and one interception, notching three carries for 13 yards and fumbling once (Philadelphia recovered). On Sunday, Pickett will be taking on a Dallas defense that has given up the third-most combined TDs (23 passing, eight rushing) to opposing quarterbacks in 15 games this season.
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Eagles' Kenny Pickett: Modest numbers in another start
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Pickett completed 11 of 13 passes for 67 yards while adding two rushing attempts for six yards in Thursday's 14-13 preseason win over the Patriots.
Pickett played the entire first half as Jalen Hurts once again got the night off. The former Pittsburgh quarterback was content checking the ball down and led the offense to only three points, though he didn't have top skill players such as A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith or Saquon Barkley at his disposal. Despite having 24 regular-season starts under his belt, Pickett figures to get extensive playing time in the Eagles' Aug. 24 preseason finale against the Vikings as he continues to familiarize himself with his new team's offense.
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Eagles' Kenny Pickett: Unimpressive in preseason opener
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Pickett completed 14 of 22 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 16-13 preseason win over the Ravens.
Reporting earlier in the day suggested that Jalen Hurts and the Eagles' first-team offense would get a series at the beginning of the game, but instead Pickett got the start under center and played into the second half. While he did connect with Will Shipley on a seven-yard TD pass on Philadelphia's second possession, Pickett had no success stretching the field and averaged just 4.0 yards per attempt, with his longest completion going for only 10 yards. The former Steeler appears set as Hurts' top backup this season, but he'll only be an emergency or garbage-time option.
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Eagles' Kenny Pickett: Dealt to Eagles
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The Steelers are trading Pickett to the Eagles for a draft pick swap, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
As recently as 10 days ago, multiple Pittsburgh beat reporters said the team preferred to keep Pickett and Mason Rudolph and then let them compete for the starting job. Both are now gone and will be backups for other teams, while the Steelers have Russell Wilson as the lone QB on their offseason roster. The move to Philadelphia might help Pickett's development but also means he'll have no opportunity to compete for the top spot, instead serving as a clear backup to Jalen Hurts. Pickett, a 2022 first-round pick, has two seasons remaining on his rookie contract, plus a fifth-year option for 2026 that's unlikely to be picked up.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett: May not get chance to compete
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Pickett won't necessarily have the opportunity to compete with newly signed Russell Wilson for a starting job, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Wilson may be past his prime but nonetheless became a strong favorite for the Week 1 start when his decision to sign with the Steelers was announced Sunday night. GM Omar Khan said a week earlier that he had "full faith" in Pickett, a 2022 first-round pick (20th overall) with more regular-season wins (14) than TD passes (13). A good defense and strong record in one-score games has allowed the Steelers to stick in the playoff hunt the past two years, but Wilson should give the offense some actual upside in what likely will be a run-first system under new coordinator Arthur Smith. Meanwhile, QB Mason Rudolph now seems likely to sign with a new team, leaving Wilson and Pickett as the experienced QBs in Pittsburgh.
