Total Pro Sports
As Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett battle it out for the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback job, one player reportedly has a leg up on the competition.
Though it’s a long shot, many fans want the Browns to roll with Shedeur Sanders after his impressive preseason debut and massive TV ratings his game drew against the Carolina Panthers, in which he threw for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
But according to Browns reporter Mary Kay Caboto of Cleveland.com, the 40-year-old Joe Flacco “has the inside track to start” the club’s Week 1 season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.
With Shedeur Sanders recovering from an oblique injury suffered in Wednesday’s practice, the Browns played Dillon Gabriel and fifth-stringer Tyler Huntley in Saturday’s preseason contest against the Philadelphia Eagles. Gabriel completed 13 of 18 pass attempts for 143 yards, no touchdowns and one pick.
As anxious as football fans are to see Sanders play meaningful football, the Browns are doing the right thing by not rushing his development. We saw what happened when Cleveland played future draft busts Tim Couch, Brady Quinn and Johnny Manziel before they were ready, so why rush Sanders?
Flacco has experience in Cleveland’s offense, winning Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2023. The Browns have nothing to lose by choosing Flacco for Week 1. If he doesn’t pan out, they can look at another QB.
