PHILADELPHIA — One by one, there was an assembly line of Philadelphia Eagles who said hello to a former teammate, to the quarterback who took the final snap in Super Bowl LIX.
Kenny Pickett was a popular guy on Wednesday at the NovaCare Complex. The Cleveland Browns were in town for their first of two joint practices ahead of Saturday’s preseason game. That afforded Pickett, Jalen Hurts’ 2024 backup who was traded to the Browns and is now competing for Cleveland’s starting job, to catch up with old friends.
After practice, Pickett spoke extensively with Jahan Dotson. He shook hands with iconic radio broadcaster Merrill Reese. He hugged Jordan Mailata, chatted with Saquon Barkley and signed a few autographs before speaking with Lane Johnson and assistant coach Jeff Stoutland.
“Man, we had a lot of great (times),” Johnson said. “He’s just a good guy.”
There were plenty of smiles, plenty of laughs. But Pickett had more work to do. After catching up with old teammates, the former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick found a spot on the far left practice field and started jogging, working out the hamstring that’s hampering his ability to compete.
Pickett entered training camp looking to separate himself from Joe Flacco and rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel in a crowded quarterback room. But on July 26, he injured his hamstring, and he’s been limited ever since.
Pickett participated in 7-on-7 drills against the Eagles but didn’t take part in full team sessions. It remains to be seen if the 27-year-old will be cleared to play in Saturday’s preseason game.
It’s an unfortunate turn of events for Pickett, who was dealt from the Eagles to the Browns in exchange for a fifth-round pick and reserve quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Pickett still has a chance to get healthy and beat out Flacco, Sanders and Gabriel. But the last few weeks aren’t what the New Jersey native had in mind when he landed in Cleveland.
“He was excited by the opportunity to compete for a job. That’s all he wanted to do,” Tony Racioppi, Pickett’s personal quarterbacks coach, told PennLive at practice. “A lot of times, when you’re a young guy who’s a starter and things don’t work out for you, you don’t get a shot again. So I think he was excited to have that opportunity. And he worked his butt off like he always does, and he was super prepared. Then obviously the hamstring happened.”
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett gets a pass off pressured by Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett in the second half at Cleveland Browns Stadium.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
Pickett’s journey to the Eagles came through western part of the state. Pitt’s all-time leading passer and the 2021 ACC player of the year was selected by the Steelers with the No. 20 overall pick in 2022. He started 24 games with a 14-10 record, throwing for 4,474 yards, 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
When Pittsburgh signed Russell Wilson last offseason, Pickett requested a trade, seeking a fresh start. The Eagles obliged. Philadelphia dealt a third-round pick and two seventh-round picks for Pickett and a fourth-round pick, securing an experienced backup for Hurts.
Pickett played well in limited action. When Hurts sustained a Week 16 injury against the Commanders, Pickett came in and completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He started the following week against the Cowboys, completing 10 of 15 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and no picks (and a “tush push” score) in a 41-7 win.
Pickett appeared in Super Bowl LIX when the game was well and truly over. He played out the final two drives and kneeled out the Eagles’ 40-22 blowout of the Chiefs. Pickett, an Eagles fan growing up, had a moment he would never forget.
But it wasn’t a shock when Pickett was dealt to the Browns in the spring. Tanner McKee, entering his third season with the Eagles, was ready to back up Hurts. And while playing close to family and friends was nice, Pickett was itching for an opportunity to start again.
“It was a year for him to kind of step back, learn from a great organization and learn from a franchise quarterback. It was good to reset himself,” Racioppi said. “But at the same time you want to play. And if you stay here, you’re not going to play. Now, he’s got an opportunity to play and be a starting quarterback in the NFL. And hey, he got a ring out of it, right?”
He did indeed. Pickett came back to Philadelphia last month to receive his Super Bowl ring and celebrate with his former teammates. Barkley said earlier in camp that one of the things that made the ceremony “even more special” was sharing it with former teammates like Pickett.
A few weeks later, Pickett got to share the practice field again with the Eagles. And on Saturday, he’ll be hoping to be able to play in front of family and friends again at Lincoln Financial Field — with an eye on the Browns’ starting quarterback job.
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