Browns' Sanders to play in preseason finale, Flacco will start

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders will return from an oblique injury Saturday and play in the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams, barring a setback, head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Thursday, according to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot.

Joe Flacco and the offensive starters will also play Saturday for the first time this preseason, Stefanski added. Rookie Dillon Gabriel will replace Flacco when he's pulled from the game, with Sanders taking the reins after Gabriel.

Quarterback Kenny Pickett, who returned to practice last week after a hamstring injury, will remain sidelined and miss Saturday's contest.

Sanders suffered the oblique injury on Aug. 13 and didn't play in Cleveland's second preseason game after starting the opener. He returned to the field this week and participated in team drills Wednesday.

The 23-year-old impressed in his preseason debut earlier in August, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 passing yards and two touchdowns. Gabriel started last weekend, totaling 144 yards with zero touchdowns and two turnovers.

Flacco, 40, was named Cleveland's Week 1 starter. However, the Browns' quarterback depth chart remains uncertain ahead of the team's regular-season opener on Sept. 7.