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Pierre Strong Pierre Strong Practicing Monday
Mon, Aug 11, 2025, 5:32 PM
Strong (undisclosed) participated in Monday's training camp practice in a limited capacity, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
Analysis: Strong did not play in Friday's preseason game against the Panthers due to an undisclosed injury. The 2022 fourth-rounder is in a battle against Trayveon Williams and rookie fourth-rounder Dylan Sampson for a spot on the Browns' 53-man roster as a depth running back. Strong should be available for Saturday's preseason game against the Eagles if he can increase his practice activity over the coming week. |
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Kenny Pickett Kenny Pickett Still limited to 7-on-7s
Mon, Aug 11, 2025, 10:12 AM
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Pickett (hamstring) will practice but remains limited to 7-on-7 drills, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Pickett and Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) were both kept from suiting up for Cleveland's preseason opener against the Panthers on Friday due to injuries, leaving Joe Flacco to rest with the starters while Shedeur Sanders and Tyler Huntley dominated reps. Gabriel returned to 11-on-11 drills Monday, however, a development that places increased pressure on Pickett to return to action soon or risk falling further behind. If Cleveland opts to keep the rookie tandem of Sanders and Gabriel on the 53-man roster, Pickett and Flacco may not be competing for just the Week 1 starting role, but also a single roster spot. Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports that Stefanski hopes to make a decision on the starting QB around the time of Saturday's preseason game against the Eagles. |
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Dillon Gabriel Dillon Gabriel Ready for team drills
Mon, Aug 11, 2025, 8:24 AM
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Gabriel (hamstring) will participate in 11-on-11 drills, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Gabriel had been limited in practice for roughly a week due to a hamstring injury, which also forced him to sit out Friday's preseason opener against the Panthers, but he now appears back to full health. With Gabriel, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett (hamstring) and Deshaun Watson (Achilles) all sidelined versus Carolina, fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders got a chance to log substantial exhibition action and impressed with two touchdown passes. Gabriel may have to make up lost ground in Saturday's road preseason game against the Eagles. |
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Diontae Johnson Diontae Johnson Gets start in preseason opener
Fri, Aug 8, 2025, 10:21 PM
Johnson failed to catch either of his targets during Friday's 30-10 preseason win over the Panthers.
Analysis: The veteran wideout got the start but wasn't on the field for long and failed to connect with Shedeur Sanders during the Browns' first two drives of the night. Johnson's main competition for the No. 3 receiver role, Jamari Thrash, also only saw two targets but showed more chemistry with Sanders by hauling both of them in, albeit for only nine yards. Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman are locked into the top two spots on the wideout depth chart, and the 29-year-old Johnson is coming off an awful 2024 campaign which saw him bounce through three different organizations without making much impact. He'll need to do more with his opportunities if he's going to get his career back on track. |
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Dylan Sampson Dylan Sampson Limited touches in Friday's start
Fri, Aug 8, 2025, 10:13 PM
Sampson gained six rushing yards on two carries and failed to haul in his only target in Friday's 30-10 preseason win over the Panthers.
Analysis: The 2025 fourth-round pick got the start in the Browns' exhibition opener with Jerome Ford being held out along with the other starters, and fellow rookie running back Quinshon Judkins still unsigned and away from the team due to off-field issues. Sampson didn't do much, but he was only on the field for Cleveland's first two drives before checking out of the contest. The limited snaps suggest that coach Kevin Stefanski may already be comfortable with Sampson's role in the offense and doesn't need the Tennessee product to prove himself, or risk injury, during the preseason. With Ford having flopped last season when he got a chance to establish himself as the team's starting RB, and Judkins' status still murky for Week 1, the door could be opening for Sampson to handle a significant role right out of the gate when the regular season begins. |
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Shedeur Sanders Shedeur Sanders Tosses two TDs in preseason debut
Fri, Aug 8, 2025, 10:06 PM
Sanders completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns while adding 19 rushing yards on four carries during Friday's 30-10 preseason win over the Panthers.
Analysis: Getting the start with Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel both dealing with hamstring injuries and Joe Flacco held out along with the Browns' other starters, Sanders connected with Kaden Davis for two second-quarter scores before eventually turning things over to Tyler Huntley for the final few drives. It was an intriguing performance from Sanders in his first NFL game action of any kind, but the 2025 fifth-round pick still has an uphill battle ahead of him over the rest of training camp and the preseason to even make Cleveland's gameday roster for Week 1. If he continues to take advantage of his opportunities while Pickett and Gabriel are sidelined however, Sanders could force coach Kevin Stefanski to make some tough decisions. |
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Jerome Ford Jerome Ford Not slated to play Friday
Fri, Aug 8, 2025, 4:45 PM
Ford is among the Browns not in line to play in Friday's preseason opener against the Panthers.
Analysis: Other key non-injured Cleveland skill players not slated to see action Friday are QB Joe Flacco, RB Pierre Strong, WRs Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman, as well as TE David Njoku. With the status of unsigned rookie second-rounder Quinshon Judkins still unclear, Ford currently profiles as the Browns' top back, with Strong and Dylan Sampson also in the mix for touches out of the gate this season. As for Friday night's contest, Sampson, Trayveon Williams, Ahmani Marshall and Toa Taua are available to handle backfield touches. |
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Shedeur Sanders Shedeur Sanders Should play around 50 snaps
Fri, Aug 8, 2025, 1:59 PM
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Sanders will play about 50 snaps in Friday's preseason opener against Carolina, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: With Joe Flacco being rested while Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel nurse hamstring injuries, the Browns are left with only Sanders and recent signing Tyler Huntley to play QB on Friday. Stefanski said the rookie will play most of the game, with Huntley apparently scheduled to only come in toward the end. It's a nice opportunity for Sanders, although he'll presumably be surrounded by fellow backups, and possibly facing Carolina's defensive starters on the first drive or two. |
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Dillon Gabriel Dillon Gabriel Absent from team drills
Wed, Aug 6, 2025, 10:54 AM
Gabriel (hamstring) won't participate in 11-on-11 drills Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Gabriel is one of three Browns quarterbacks who won't play in Friday's preseason opener in Carolina, with Shedeur Sandersand Tyler Huntley set to see action in the contest. The 2025 third-round pick sustained a hamstring injury in practice last Saturday and won't push it for the remainder of the week. He is still competing for his spot on the roster in what is a very crowded quarterback room. |
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Kenny Pickett Kenny Pickett Won't play Friday
Wed, Aug 6, 2025, 10:50 AM
Pickett (hamstring) participated in 7-on-7 drills during Wednesday's practice, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: 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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Tyler Huntley Tyler Huntley Available to play Friday
Wed, Aug 6, 2025, 10:16 AM
Huntley is expected to back up Shedeur Sanders in the first preseason game against Carolina on Friday, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Huntley signed with Cleveland on Monday and is now expected to play in their preseason opener just four days later. Along with Shedeur Sanders, he is the only available quarterback with Kenny Pickett (hamstring), Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) and Joe Flacco (resting) not playing. The 27-year-old journeyman is now on his fifth team after spending last year in Miami, where he started five games. |
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Jerry Jeudy Jerry Jeudy Won't play Friday night
Wed, Aug 6, 2025, 9:07 AM
Jeudy and Cedric Tillman won't play in Friday's preseason opener against the Panthers, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said he wants to play some of his projected starters, but Jeudy, Tillman and QB Joe Flacco apparently will be kept on ice. There presumably will be others, including on the defensive side. All signs point to Flacco getting the Week 1 start at QB, which is promising for Jeudy's fantasy value relative to the alternatives. |
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Joe Flacco Joe Flacco Won't play in preseason opener
Tue, Aug 5, 2025, 3:47 PM
Flacco isn't scheduled to play in Friday's preseason opener against the Panthers, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: The Browns are holding him out even though Shedeur Sanders was their only other healthy quarterback prior to signing Tyler Huntley on Monday. Huntley spent time with the team last year and thus has experience operating coach Kevin Stefanski's playbook, but it'll be Sanders getting the start Friday night. Stefanski said he plans to play some starters, with Flacco's absence thus being the latest sign that the 40-year-old is on track for the Week 1 start. Making it through the season without getting benched or injured will be the more challenging part. |
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Shedeur Sanders Shedeur Sanders Starting preseason opener
Tue, Aug 5, 2025, 3:38 PM
Sanders will start Friday's preseason opener against Carolina, as Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel both have hamstring injuries, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: With Pickett and Gabriel both banged up, the Browns signed Tyler Huntley on Monday to have a third healthy QB in camp. They apparently don't want to play Joe Flacco in the preseason opener -- although coach Kevin Stefanski said some starters will play -- and will instead let Sanders and Huntley handle QB reps. Huntley spent time with the Browns last year, so he should be ready to play by Friday and may be more comfortable with the playbook than Sanders is. Prior to the Pickett and Gabriel injuries, there hadn't been any whispers out of Cleveland training camp about Sanders climbing the depth chart or otherwise making a strong impression. The fifth-round pick now figures to get a lot of reps with the second-string offense, after working with the deeper depth guys for the first two weeks of camp. |
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Tyler Huntley Tyler Huntley Another QB lands in Cleveland
Mon, Aug 4, 2025, 8:22 PM
Huntley signed with the Browns on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: The signing comes as Kenny Pickett (hamstring), Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) and Shedeur Sanders (shoulder) are all dealing with injuries, per Schefter. In 2024, Huntley spent time with the Browns and appeared in five games with the Dolphins, recording 829 passing yards and three touchdowns against three interceptions. The quarterback would likely need an ongoing injury to one or more of the Browns' current QBs to have a chance to stick with the team, as Joe Flacco appears to be the leader in the clubhouse for the starting role and Gabriel and Sanders were both drafted by Cleveland in the spring. |
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Trayveon Williams Trayveon Williams Headed to Cleveland
Mon, Aug 4, 2025, 4:22 PM
The Browns signed Williams to a contract Monday.
Analysis: Williams was let go by the Patriots on Wednesday, but he now has the opportunity to earn a spot on the Browns' roster. The 2019 sixth-rounder spent the first six years of his NFL career with the Bengals and served as a special-teams specialist in 2024, with only 10 of his 262 snaps coming on offense. |
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Dillon Gabriel Dillon Gabriel Limited Monday due to hamstring
Mon, Aug 4, 2025, 12:53 PM
Gabriel (hamstring) will be limited in Monday's practice, per coach Kevin Stefanski, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Stefanski also told Oyefusi that Gabriel sustained and reported the hamstring injury in practice Saturday. Shedeur Sanders (arm) is returning to full participation Monday alongside Joe Flacco, while Gabriel's limited participation in team drills will be more than Kenny Pickett (hamstring) puts forth. It remains to be seen what combination of the four quarterback Cleveland deploys in its preseason opener Thursday against the Panthers. |
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Kenny Pickett Kenny Pickett Remains limited at practice
Mon, Aug 4, 2025, 12:49 PM
Pickett (hamstring) won't take part in team drills during Monday's practice, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: While Pickett's return to the practice field is a positive development, the hamstring injury that previously sidelined him continues to limit him. Once Pickett is able to work fully, he'll look to resume competing for the Browns' top QB job, but for now Zac Jackson of The Athletic suggests that Pickett has been losing ground on that front to veteran signal-caller Joe Flacco. Per Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, Pickett is unlikely to play in Friday's preseason opener against the Panthers. |
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Shedeur Sanders Shedeur Sanders Set to practice fully
Mon, Aug 4, 2025, 10:58 AM
Sanders (arm) is slated to practice fully Monday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Sanders was held out of team drills Saturday because of arm soreness, but the rookie signal-caller's ability to work fully Monday indicates that he's quickly moved past the issue. For now, Sanders slots in behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett (hamstring) and Dillon Gabriel in the Browns' ongoing QB competition. |
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Joe Flacco Joe Flacco Strengthening hold on QB1 role
Sun, Aug 3, 2025, 11:31 AM
Flacco is the "strong favorite" to begin the regular season as Cleveland's starting quarterback, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Flacco has been the "presumed favorite" since the beginning of training camp, and multiple factors have helped him tighten his grip on the role. First, Jackson reports that the veteran QB had his best two days of throwing Friday and Saturday. Second, Kenny Pickett strained a hamstring July 27 and is still working his way back to full speed, though he's returned to practice in a limited capacity. Finally, rookie Shedeur Sanders hasn't been able to do much as he deals with arm soreness, though Jackson suggests that neither Sanders nor fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel ever had a "realistic chance" of winning the starting job out of the gate. It all adds up to Flacco looking like the Browns' starter Week 1 against Cincinnati, though Pickett still could make a case for the role if he outshines Flacco upon returning to full health. |
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