To the surprise of no one, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson gets placed on the PUP list.
Deshaun Watson missed the final 10 games of the NFL season in 2024 after he suffered a ruptured achilles in week 7 versus the Cincinnati Bengals. While Watson isn’t expected back anytime soon, being placed on the PUP list is one formal step closer to being officially out for the 2025 season.
The Browns have been no stranger to controversy during Watson’s tenure as his off the field behavior is well documented. The only controversy (for now) as it relates to quarterback for the Browns is who will be the starter come week 1. Joe Flacco has the veteran advantage and is the early favorite to begin the season as the Browns starter.
The Browns confused many in taking two quarterbacks in the NFL Draft. Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) was selected in round 3 while Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) was taken in round 5. Sanders plummeted in the draft so hard that some have questioned the sincerity of the pick as it relates to the Browns team building plans. If none of the aforementioned quarterbacks succeed, the Browns can always fall back on Steelers cast-off Kenny Pickett. Browns fans would be wise to keep their refrigerators full this season.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
The Las Vegas Raiders are acquiring quarterback Kenny ...
Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett (hamstring) will...
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that ...
Quarterback Kenny Pickett plans to be the starter for the Cleveland Browns when the season starts up.
Newly acquired quarterback Kenny Pickett plans he will be the starter for the Cleveland Browns this coming season. Fresh off a Super Bowl Ring Pickett got traded from the Eagles to the Browns for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round pick. This will be Pickett’s third team in his five-year career. Pickett was the first quarterback drafted in 2022 by the Pittsburg Steelers. After, two years there he was traded to the Eagles last offseason. Now, he is planning to be the Browns starting quarterback after another trade. Pickett said, “I plan to start for the Browns. I’m not going there to hang out.” With his eyes set to become the starter he will have to beat out 40-year-old Joe Flacco and potentially a rookie quarterback as well if the Browns select one in this year’s draft.
In 2022 during his rookie season, he appeared in 13 games and ended up being the QB 28 on the season, and in 2023 he appeared in 12 games and finished QB 31. In 2024 he was the backup for Jalen Hurts which he filled in for Hurts after he suffered a concussion in Week 16, Pickett ended up being the QB 27 on the week. In Week 17 Pickett got to start for the Eagles but got injured in the 3rd quarter and did not finish. He was QB 20 during fantasy championship week. During Pickett’s career he hasn’t been a fantasy producer by any means and often injured as well.
Author: Jake Lewis (@Lewylewis5)
Kenny Pickett has been traded to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 5th round pick.
The Cleveland Browns now have a new backup quarterback! Kenny Pickett has been traded to the Browns in exchange for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 5th round pick. If the Browns don’t draft a quarterback in the draft, you will see Pickett as the starter while Deshaun Watson recovers most the season if not all of 2025 season from a rupture Achilles.
As for fantasy purposes Pickett is in line to become the starter for the Browns. The last season Pickett started the whole season he finished as QB-31 in 2023 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is still worthy to stash on a dynasty roster and especially in super flex leagues.
Author: Jake Lewis (@Lewylewis5)
The Steelers said Kenny Pickett is their QB1, but they plan to bring in competition this offseason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike Tomlin overcame Matt Canada and Kenny Pickett this past season and managed to keep the .500 or better streak alive while also making the playoffs. With Canada gone and Pickett entering a contract extension year Tomlin plans to bring in QB competition for Kenny Pickett.
Tomlin said he is open to having Pickett as their starter, but it seems he will do his due diligence before allowing Pickett’s poor play to threaten his streak again. It will be interesting to see where the competition comes from, but with so many intriguing Quarterbacks in the 2024 draft class, it will behoove Tomlin to take a shot on one. There are also free agent options such as Kirk Cousins, Ryan Tannehill, and Baker Mayfield the Steelers could look to bring in.
2023 was a bumpy year for a Steelers team that at times looked like one of the worst teams in the NFL, and Kenny Pickett deserves a lot of the blame for that. With Tomlin outright stating he is bringing in competition the writing is on the wall.
Kenny Pickett gets ankle surgery, will be OUT for several weeks.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback, Kenny Pickett, has faced a challenging start to his NFL career, grappling with subpar performances and the recent firing of play-caller Matt Canada. Compounding the situation, Pickett suffered an ankle injury requiring surgery, sidelining him for several weeks. Amidst speculation about a possible benching due to his underwhelming stats—just 6 touchdowns this season and an average of under 185 passing yards per game—Mitchell Trubisky steps in as the potential savior.
Trubisky, a seasoned NFL veteran, showcased his capabilities by throwing a touchdown in relief for Pickett. However, facing a formidable Bill Belichick defense in his first start of the year during a short week raises doubts about the effectiveness of the Steelers’ offense. Caution is advised, as trusting any element of this Trubisky-led Pittsburgh offense in fantasy lineups appears risky, given the team’s lackluster performance throughout the season.
Pittsburgh Steelers OC Matt Canada has been fired.
In a historic move, the Pittsburgh Steelers have made their first in-season coaching change since 1941, relieving Matt Canada of his duties. Despite well-wishes for Canada’s future endeavors, concerns have arisen regarding his performance as the Offensive Coordinator (OC), evidenced by a decline in the team’s scoring from 20.2 points per game (ppg) in 2021 to 16.6 ppg in 2023.
The impact of Canada’s offensive strategies on quarterback Kenny Pickett has been notable, with Pickett’s statistics reflecting a mediocre 13 touchdowns to 13 interceptions ratio and an average of 179.4 yards per game over 23 career games. The coaching change prompts anticipation for potential improvements and a clearer evaluation of Pickett’s capabilities.
The Steelers have outlined a shift in leadership, with RBs Coach Eddie Faulkner taking on a significant role in offensive game planning, while QBs Coach Mike Sullivan assumes the role of offensive play caller on game days. Sullivan, with prior stints as an OC with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Giants, brings experience to the position. Despite past challenges, the Steelers and fantasy managers are optimistic about potential positive changes following this strategic adjustment.
