The Cleveland Browns are entering the 2025 NFL season with a jampacked quarterback room. Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders are competing for the Browns’ QB mantle. Deshaun Watson is out of the picture as he is currently dealing with a ruptured Achilles.
With just two weeks left before the season kicks off, there were multiple discussions about who’ll lead the Browns’ offense. The team has named their primary quarterback for the Week 1 fixture against Joe Burrow‘s Cincinnati Bengals.
Joe Flacco set to start in Week 1 vs. Bengals
Sanders put on a show in his first outing with the Browns, pushing head coach Kevin Stefanski to rethink his choices. He completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions against the Panthers in the preseason opener.
Gabriel added more drama with his performance against the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. He completed 13 of 18 passes for 143 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception.
The Browns have yet to play their final game of the preseason, but Stefanski has already made up his mind. NFL insider Adam Schefter revealed the Browns’ QB1 for their first game of this year’s campaign.
“Sources: Browns are naming Joe Flacco as their Week 1 starting quarterback vs. the Cincinnati Bengals,” he wrote.
Sources: Browns are naming Joe Flacco as their Week 1 starting quarterback vs. the Cincinnati Bengals. pic.twitter.com/XND3YQ0NrC
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 18, 2025
Sanders did not play in the Browns’ matchup against the Eagles on Saturday after picking up an injury in the joint practice session. The rookie QB sustained a blow to his oblique on Wednesday.
“You know, if it’s a right guard, you can play through that,” Stefanski said about Sanders’ injury. “When it’s a quarterback, you kind of need that muscle to throw. So unfortunately, gonna put him down for a little bit here. We’ll treat it day to day and see how it responds. But I want to be smart because he’s a thrower, so you can’t push it.”
Gabriel was also questionable ahead of the second game but managed to suit up and split offensive snaps with Tyler Huntley. Pickett is also recovering from a hamstring issue. With an injury-plagued QB room, Stefanski’s decision to start Joe Flacco makes a lot of sense.
However, this nearly ensures that the two rookies, Gabriel and Sanders, will be fighting for the QB3 spot at the beginning of the season. Can the youngsters make an impact and rise up in the depth chart? Only time will tell.
