Though Kenny Pickett (hamstring) was back on the practice field Friday, Flacco continued to handle the bulk of the Browns' QB reps during team drills, Dan Labbe of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

EDGE Analysis

In his first practice back from a hamstring injury that he suffered last Saturday, Pickett went through individual drills Friday. Once he's ready to work fully, however, we'd expect Pickett to resume splitting most of the first-team reps with Flacco, with Dillon Gabriel mixing in with the first unit to a lesser degree, while Shedeur Sanders gets reps with the second- or third-team offense. With that in mind, Cleveland's QB competition is far from settled, with coach Kevin Stefanski declining to reveal his signal-caller plan for the team's Aug. 8 preseason opener against the Panthers, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that most of the Browns' first-team QB reps would go to Flacco while Kenny Pickett (hamstring) is sidelined, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Prior to his injury, Pickett had split most of the first-team reps with Flacco, with 2025 third-rounder Dillon Gabriel sprinkling in and 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders not getting any work with the first unit. For any length of time that Pickett misses, Flacco will have added opportunities to make his case for the Week 1 starting assignment, but assuming Pickett's injury doesn't linger, look for their snap-sharing arrangement to resume once he's back on the practice field.

Flacco was the first QB up for 11-on-11 work Thursday, after Kenny Pickett did the honors Wednesday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jackson notes that Flacco sometimes takes fewer reps than the other quarterbacks because he's so much older and more experienced. It otherwise sounds like Flacco and Pickett are on equal footing in a competition for the Week 1 starting job. Dillon Gabriel has been the third QB through drills ahead of fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders, but there's still plenty of time this summer for the latter to make a push up the depth chart.

Flacco did not participate in the Browns' 11-on-11 session at practice Wednesday, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Flacco was the first quarterback up in the team's first modified 7-on-7 series against the team's No. 1 defensive back seven. He then shifted into being a spectator for the remainder of the day, handing the reins off to Kenny Pickett to begin the team's 11-on-11 session to end practice. Not much can be inferred about the quarterback pecking order in Cleveland after the team's first full-squad workout Wednesday, but it's worth monitoring as the days pass. Flacco and Pickett appear to be the frontrunners of the Browns' four-man quarterback competition, with rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel fighting an uphill battle.

Flacco took limited reps during mandatory minicamp, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Flacco is entering his 18th NFL season, so extra reps during the offseason aren't necessarily all that valuable. He participated enough to help install the offense, but otherwise served as a mentor to Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, helping them develop a cadence and study film. Flacco is expected to compete for the starting job during training camp and could realistically be under center for Cleveland's Week 1 matchup against the Bengals.

Flacco will face additional competition from rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, whom the Browns drafted in the third and fifth rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, respectively.

EDGE Analysis

Deshaun Watson isn't expected to be available for the beginning of the season as he recovers from a torn Achilles, but Cleveland now has four potential Week 1 starting options in Flacco (signed April 11), Kenny Pickett (traded for March 10), Gabriel out of Oregon and Sanders out of Colorado. Even if the 40-year-old Flacco wins the job initially in camp, it likely won't take long until Cleveland turns to one of the three younger options, who possess significantly more long-term upside, especially because Sanders was viewed as a likely first-round pick before surprisingly dropping in the draft.

Flacco has agreed to a one-year deal with the Browns, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Per the report, Flacco's deal is for $4 million, though the veteran QB could earn up to $13 million with incentives factored in. Flacco -- who played for the Colts last season -- is thus in line to return to Cleveland, where he won the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award in 2023. Bringing back the 40-year-old bolsters a signal-caller corps that also includes Deshaun Watson -- who could miss most or all of the 2025 season due to an Achilles injury -- and 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett. It's also quite possible that the Browns will select another QB in the upcoming NFL Draft, but as things stand now, Flacco is in a position to compete with Pickett to be the team's starter in Week 1.

Flacco completed 23 of 40 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 26-23 overtime win over the Jaguars.

EDGE Analysis

Getting the start in place of Anthony Richardson (back), Flacco hit Alec Pierce for a 40-yard TD on the Colts' first possession and finished the game with respectable numbers. This may have been the 39-year-old quarterback's final NFL game, as he will become a free agent this offseason and hasn't indicated whether he wants to keep playing, but if he does elect to keep playing he seems to be a good fit in Indy as the backup/mentor to the gifted but raw Richardson. Over eight appearances in 2024, Flacco completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 1,761 yards and a 12:7 TD:INT.

Flacco will start Sunday's season finale against the Jaguars, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran QB will get his second straight start, with Anthony Richardson (back) having been ruled out for Sunday's contest, per head coach Shane Steichen. While filling in for Richardson in Week 17, Flacco completed 26 of 38 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions in the Colts' 45-33 loss to the Giants. Flacco thus represents a Week 18 lineup option for those in need of QB help due to injuries or scenarios in which their signal-callers will be limited or rested this weekend.

Flacco completed 26 of 38 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions in Sunday's 45-33 loss to the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Making his first start since Week 10, Flacco posted big passing numbers and hit Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman for fourth-quarter TDs, but he also committed three turnovers as he lost a fumble to end the Colts' final possession in addition to his two picks. With Indy now eliminated from postseason contention, it's not clear whether the team will even consider using Anthony Richardson (back/foot) in Week 18 against the Jaguars, or if Flacco might get one more start in 2024.