Kenny Pickett isn't playing in the preseason finale, but he figures prominently in what might happen on the QB depth chart behind starter Joe Flacco. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Ageless Joe Flacco was named the Browns’ starting quarterback job on Monday, and he and the first-team offense will get their first live action together in the preseason finale in Huntington Bank Field against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams just want to get back on their plane and fly home. Rams coach Sean McVay didn’t even ask several of his regulars to make the cross-country trip, so the competitiveness of this exhibition game could be lacking.
The home crowd will see Flacco operate for 20 to 25 plays behind the No. 1 offensive line.
Flacco will throw to Browns single-season receptions record-holder Jerry Jeudy in a game for the first time, along with WR2 hopeful Cedric Tillman, and tight ends David Njoku and rookie Harold Fannin Jr., who may line up anywhere and everywhere. Jerome Ford and rookie Dylan Sampson should share time in the backfield.
Jim Schwartz’s No. 1 defense, which dominated daily practices in Berea and joint practices against Carolina and Philadelphia, may get one quarter of action.
Cornerback Denzel Ward will not play. Defensive end Myles Garrett wants to play, but coach Kevin Stefanski reserved the right to hold out some regulars and Garrett might not play more than a series, if that.
Fans will get their first look at GM Andrew Berry’s top two draft choices – defensive tackle Mason Graham and linebacker Carson Schwesinger – who were given prominent roles from the start of camp. Both have been impressive and proved deserving.
But the real storyline of this final preseason game centers on rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. One of them has the opportunity to seize the QB2 job heading into the regular season.
The situation is this:
Stefanski has held out Kenny Pickett from seeing his first game action of the preseason. Pickett was competing for the starting job until felled by a Grade 2 strained hamstring on July 26. Although Pickett took four reps in a team period this week for the first time since the injury, the coach intentionally scratched him from this game for a reason.
The Browns want to see if Gabriel or Sanders can earn the trust of the coaches and team to open the season as top backup to Flacco.
Gabriel has been ahead of Sanders throughout camp and will get the first reps after Flacco departs the game. Sanders will follow.
Both rookies have made a good start in the preseason. Sanders had a turnover-free game with two touchdown throws against Carolina after the Panthers pulled their defensive starters. Gabriel moved the chains better against the Super Bowl champion Eagles, with five consecutive third-down conversions against Philadelphia’s second defensive team and led three scoring drives. But Gabriel’s two turnovers were downers. Still, they didn’t affect his status ahead of Sanders in the QB rotation.
With the cutdown to 53 players coming on Tuesday, Pickett’s roster status is the elephant in the room.
The Browns are considering the following options:
* Keep all four quarterbacks on the 53 and start the season with Pickett as QB2.
* Find a trading partner for Pickett and start the season with Gabriel or Sanders as QB2.
* Start the season with Pickett on short-term injured reserve and name Gabriel or Sanders QB2. For that to happen, Pickett would first make the initial 53 and be moved to IR a day later.
All the options depend on the performances of Gabriel and Sanders in the preseason finale.
Other storylines in this game to watch:
* The addition of receiver Isaiah Bond, who will play after only three practices, leaves maybe one receiver position up for grabs among fading veteran Diontae Johnson, undrafted rookie sensation Gage Larvadain and reliable Kaden Davis, who caught both of Sanders’ touchdown passes in Carolina.
* The battle for the starting left defensive end has been hotly contested between Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire. Whomever doesn’t win the starting spot surely will see plenty of reps over the course of the season, along with backups Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Julian Okwara
* The important nickel back role has seen Cam Mitchell slightly ahead of Myles Harden. Backup safety Rayshawn Jenkins also has gotten reps there.
* Kicker Dustin Hopkins’ job is not secure. One missed PAT is one too many and a sign his problems from last season haven’t been solved. Backup kicker Andre Szmyt has stepped forward as a serious challenger for the job.