Overview

• Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Flacco earned the job after taking most first‑team reps and performing well in meetings and joint practices, with the team even holding him out of preseason action to preserve health.
• Kenny Pickett returned to limited 11‑on‑11 work Tuesday but will not play in Saturday’s preseason finale, a setback that could affect his standing for the initial depth chart behind Flacco.
• Shedeur Sanders impressed in his preseason debut (14-for-23, 138 yards, two TDs) before an oblique injury sidelined him; the staff is monitoring his workload day to day.
• Stefanski has not named a backup, and reports have listed the order behind Flacco as Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, then Sanders, though the rookies have logged more camp and preseason reps than Pickett.
• GM Andrew Berry has publicly left open the option of carrying four quarterbacks, and while analysts foresee a possible midseason reevaluation, Flacco said it’s “not really my job” to decide whether he remains QB1 all year.