Team news: Cleveland Browns | Page 4

The Browns are naming QB Joe Flacco as their starter, the end of a training camp competition that never really was.

Flacco quickly emerged as QB1, while the others battled injuries. The player who led them to the playoffs in 2023 is back.

Related players: Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel

This isn't really shocking news. The thing to watch will now be how the rest of the QBs align behind Flacco as we get closer to the season. Both Sanders and Gabriel didn't look bad in their preseason games in Weeks 1 and 2, but both have dealt with injuries. The team has a lot of options, and this will need to sort itself out by the start of the season. The Browns Week 3 preseason game could go a long way to determine the rest of the order.

According to head coach Kellen Moore, both tight end Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill are not close to a return to the field. Rather, “they’re not ready to get on the field any time soon”, via Moore. The depth at TE for Moore’s offense is a notable concern due to these injuries.

Related players: Juwan Johnson, Jack Stoll

As the story pointed out, Johnson is the clear starter for the Saints at the TE position. Stoll is set for a legitimate offensive impact as of now, but is considered more of a blocker, the story went on to say. As for Hill, he is trying to recover from an ACL tear at 34-years-old. Hill is expected to remain on the PUP list and miss the first four games of the season. Given his age and the injury, he's obviously a risky bet in fantasy this season. But if you like to take chances and take advantage of IR spots, Hill is at least someone you can stash there and maybe pick up late in drafts.

The Browns are starting Dillon Gabriel at quarterback in Saturday’s preseason game against the Eagles.

Gabriel missed the first preseason week with hamstring tightness but returned to practice this week. Gabriel should see plenty of work Saturday as fellow rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders suffered an oblique injury this week and will miss the game. Kenny Pickett (hamstring) is working his way back but has not yet participated in team drills. Joe Flacco and Tyler Huntley are the other healthy quarterbacks in Cleveland.

Former Texas WR Isaiah Bond announces he has signed with the Browns.

Related Players: Cedric Tillman, Jamari Thrash, Jerry Jeudy, Diontae Johnson, DeAndre Carter

After legal issues factored into the former Texas receiver going undrafted, the case was "no-billed", meaning no further criminal charges will be faced, and he's heading to Cleveland. The script writes itself sometimes.

The speedy receiver spent a lot of time in the slot in Alabama before wrapping up his career as an outside burner in Austin. If he makes the Browns' final roster, he'll fight for a rotational role in the WR room.

Browns rookie RB Quinshon Judkins will not face any formal charges, as prosecutors have declined to move forward with the case.

This clears the way for him to return to the team, and I’m told that should likely happen in the near future.

Related Players: Jerome Ford, Dylan Sampson

This is huge news, but doesn't necessarily mean he will completely avoid league discipline. He's got some ground to make up, but this is at least moving in the right direction to get him on the field for the regular season. Sampson is still probably who we should be leaning toward for touches in the early going, with Judkins a borderline RB3 option once he gets up to speed.

Browns QB Shedeur Sanders injured his oblique in practice today, early on, and will be evaluated. That may take him out of the next preseason game — the latest in a string of Cleveland nagging QB injuries.

Related Players: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel

Pickett is also sidelined at the moment, so the next preseason game might be between Gabriel and recently signed Tyler Huntley. We still expect Flacco to begin the regular season as the starter.

Ahead of camp, I believed there were dozens of ways the quarterback competition could play out. Two weeks before the preseason ends, it’s still impossible to predict much of anything outside of Joe Flacco probably being the opening-day starter.

Related players: Shedeur Sanders, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel

The story went on to say, until we see Sanders get practice reps with the No. 1 offense, we can’t believe the Browns view him as having much of a shot to be the No. 2 when the season begins. The story added because of Pickett's injury, his time is running out to have a chance at the starting position. And the same can be said for Gabriel. The author said the coaching staff sees Gabriel ahead of Sanders in the pecking order, but the author said, "but rarely in training camp has that position matched what we’ve seen on the field." The author also added that "no reasonable person thinks Sanders will be fully ready to lead a team and consistently attack a complicated NFL defense three weeks from now." The story said Sanders has shown enough talent and growth and has a chance to develop into a starting-quality player. So while Flacco seems like a safe bet, with three other QBs in the mix it seems to be anyone's guess how the rest of the order shakes out.

Shedeur Sanders, the Browns’ fourth-team quarterback who has yet to take a snap with the first-team offense, is expected to start the game, a league source tells cleveland.com.

Related players: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, Tyler Hundley

There may not be much news here to be quite honest. Both Pickett and Gabriel are dealing with injuries and Flacco doesn't need to see time in a preseason game ... so Sanders gets his chance. A lot was made about the Browns recently-released depth chart and so Sanders can maybe make a move upward with a solid performance. Recently-signed Tyler Hundley will also likely see time in the game.

Browns QB Shedeur Sanders was held out of team drills Saturday due to shoulder soreness.

Sanders was getting more work in camp with Kenny Pickett out with a hamstring injury. His absence Saturday meant Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel took all the reps in practice. We'll see if Sanders misses any valuable practice time and what the Browns' plan is for him in the preseason. The Browns open the preseason Friday on the road against the Panthers.

Sources: Browns WR Cedric Tillman is believed to be okay following the injury to his lower left leg during today’s practice — which forced him off the field.

Related Players: Jerry Jeudy, Diontae Johnson, Jamari Thrash, DeAndre Carter

An earlier report mentioned that Tillman walked off the field on his own with a member of the medical staff. Doesn't seem to be anything to worry about, and we'd expect Tillman to continue operating opposite Jeudy this upcoming season, which makes him an interesting target late in drafts.