The Cleveland Browns have made their quarterback decision at the top. Joe Flacco will start Week 1.
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Head coach Kevin Stefanski said that the veteran, now in his 18th season, earned the job. Flacco returned to Cleveland this offseason after guiding the team to a playoff berth in 2023 and once again brought steadiness to the position.
"I thought he's done exactly what we've asked him to do and I think we have a lot of confidence in him," Stefanski said Tuesday. "Joe performed really well both in practice, in the joint practices, in the meeting room — you name it. Just what he's able to bring to the football team, he's earned that role."
Flacco has been the only healthy quarterback throughout camp, with Kenny Pickett and rookie Dillon Gabriel both slowed by hamstring injuries and rookie Shedeur Sanders sidelined by an oblique issue. Even so, Stefanski stressed that Flacco's performance, not simply availability, drove the choice.
Naming Flacco the starter was the easy part. The bigger question comes next week, when rosters must be trimmed from 90 to 53.
Asked whether the Browns will keep four quarterbacks, Stefanski admitted the decision will not be simple. "Those are tough decisions," he said. "I'd like to keep everybody, but not realistic."
The Browns currently have Flacco, Pickett, Gabriel, Sanders, Tyler Huntley and injured starter Deshaun Watson under contract. Carrying four quarterbacks would strain the roster at other positions, but cutting one comes with risk. Cleveland could place a player on injured reserve, stash him for later, or even explore a trade.
Pickett stands out as the possible odd man out. The Browns acquired him from Philadelphia this offseason in a deal that felt more like a safety net than a long-term plan. His fully-guaranteed $2.6 million salary for 2025 and uneven camp make him a candidate to be moved if another team needs depth.
For now, the Browns know who will lead them onto the field in Week 1. The tougher roster calls arrive soon, and the quarterback room may look different by the time the season begins.
