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The Cleveland Browns are adding quarterback depth by bringing back Tyler Huntley, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The move comes as injuries have hit the Browns’ quarterback group. Kenny Pickett has been dealing with a hamstring issue for the past week, while rookie Dillon Gabriel was also limited Monday with a similar problem. Shedeur Sanders is managing shoulder soreness, leaving veteran Joe Flacco as the only fully healthy quarterback at practice.
The Browns open their preseason Friday night against the Carolina Panthers. Neither Pickett nor Gabriel is expected to play, per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. Flacco, 40, only played six snaps in last year’s preseason, and playing Sanders extensively with a sore shoulder would be risky.
Huntley Brings Familiarity
Huntley spent this past offseason and preseason with Cleveland before being cut during final roster decisions. He later joined the Ravens’ practice squad and finished 2024 with five starts for the Miami Dolphins. His knowledge of the Browns’ system makes him an ideal option to handle preseason snaps while the other quarterbacks recover.
The 27-year-old will not compete for the starting job, which has been a battle between Flacco and Pickett throughout camp. Still, Huntley’s return is notable. Just last season, he started in place of Tua Tagovailoa in Miami after previously filling in for Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. Now, he returns as a possible camp body. The Cardinals worked him out in April but chose not to sign him.
Current QB Depth Chart
Flacco sits at the top of Cleveland’s first unofficial depth chart as Pickett’s injury setback hurts his push for the starting role. Pickett acknowledged the challenge of returning quickly:
“I’m trying to get back out there as fast as possible,” Pickett told Cabot. “I’ve never had a soft tissue injury like this, so it’s really a first-time experience in my career.”
Behind Flacco and Pickett are Gabriel and Sanders. Gabriel has been taking more reps than Sanders, but according to The Athletic’s Zac Jackson, Sanders has been more accurate during camp. Neither rookie will start early this season, though Sanders’ quick progress could give him a chance to see the field later in the year.
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