The Cleveland Browns QB competition is the hot topic heading into the preseason. Or more precisely, how each QB decision, which generally hasn’t turned out quite the way head coach Kevin Stefanski had expected in the last few years, will turn out this season.
Will the Browns QB competition finally yield their franchise QB, or will it just be another year that adds to their QB carousel reputation is the million-dollar question. Stefanski has kept his head down and continued assessing his QBs amid all the noise. Whenever he has given QB updates, though, he has remained neutral in a way that sends no clear message on favorites.
Kevin Stefanski’s Verdict on Cleveland Browns QB Competition
All this is probably why Shedeur Sanders, the afterthought draft pick, getting named the starting QB against the Carolina Panthers came as the wildest curveball, mainly because his practice session reps were with the backup teams. If anything, Stefanski expected a bit of a stir following it.
Only this time, the sixth-year HC came prepared with a no-nonsense response to calm the commotion in the fandom.
“I know it will get reported on who’s in there first,” Stefanski asserted in front of the media in late July before the Browns huddled in for their first training camp practice.
“And it may change. It will change tomorrow. So, I caution you to [not] read too much into it until we get much later on in the process.”
Cleveland Browns QB Competition Might Still Be On
Stefanski’s “process”, or the training camp, is nearly done. Yet, his words can still be taken at their face value. Things aren’t looking too reliable in the Browns’ QB room.
Kenny Pickett, who appeared to be the most probable starter, is nursing a hamstring injury. So is Dillon Gabriel. Deshaun Watson continues to tend to his torn Achilles, and his status remains uncertain.
Sanders also reported a sore shoulder in the previous training camp. He seems to have recovered from it now though, as he was named the starting QB for preseason game 1.
What Kevin Stefanski’s Decision of The Browns QB Competition Says
The startling decision sent another message to the fans: Stefanski picked the rookie over the veteran QB Joe Flacco. Tyler “Snoop” Huntley, whom the Browns just signed a couple of days ago, is also in the mix.
Huntley would still be playing against the Panthers, it will be Sanders who will start the game. That said, most of the starters will not be playing Friday. Perhaps Stefanski is saving all the seasoned firepower for the regular season, including Flacco.
Resting a veteran like Flacco while rookies like Sanders get a chance to test their skills is a classic old leaf from the NFL playbook. In all, this would be a true test for Sanders if he wants to come even close to Week 1 starter talks.
It gives the fans all the more reason to finally start reading more into it. It will be interesting to see whether Stefanski continues to rest the experienced players and choose rookies for Week 1. Or whether he brings in the veterans early in the season to get a head start for a hopeful winning record.
Main Image: Ken Blaze – Imagn Images
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