Tag: Gabriel

Browns sticking with Shedeur Sanders for Week 13

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders won his debut start on Sunday, earning a second this week against the San Francisco 49ers.

Cleveland turned to Sanders with rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel in concussion protocol and unavailable for Week 12. Sanders completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards, one touchdown and one interception to help the Browns defeat the Las Vegas Raiders, 24-10, and snap a three-game losing streak.

“Obviously, the No. 1 job of a quarterback is to win,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday. “So excited to get that first win under his belt. And the next thing is improvement. That’s what young players do. Certainly, young quarterbacks do. You get one game better. And that’s just from working at it. That will be our focus.”

Stefanski said Gabriel has cleared concussion protocol and will be the No. 2 quarterback this week.

With the QB call behind them, the Browns (3-8) get a head start on preparation for the 49ers, who play Monday night against the Carolina Panthers, in pursuit of their third home win of the season. Sunday was Cleveland’s first road win since Week 2 of the 2024 season at Jacksonville.

Cleveland jumped to a 14-0 lead over the Raiders on Sunday. Sanders was not at quarterback — or on the field — when the Browns punched in two touchdowns from the “Wildcat” formation, using rookie running back Quinshon Judkins on direct snap running plays.

Sanders was drafted 50 spots behind Gabriel by the Browns and was at the bottom of the depth chart when the regular season began. The Browns traded Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals and named Gabriel the starter entering Week 5.

–Field Level Media

Shedeur Sanders fizzles in Browns’ debut after injury to Dillon Gabriel

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel exited Sunday’s 23-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens with a concussion, giving fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders his first taste of NFL play.

Sanders completed just 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and one interception while playing with the first-team offense for the first time, including practice sessions. Sanders was sacked twice, fumbling on one of them with the Browns recovering.

The biggest problem: Cleveland didn’t score with Sanders running the offense. His passer rating was just 13.5.

“I don’t think I played good at all,” Sanders said after the game. “There are lot of things we need to look at during the week and go get comfortable throwing routes to all those guys. That was my first balls to them all year.”

Gabriel’s status for next week’s road game against the Las Vegas Raiders will be determined during the week.

Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said Gabriel will start if he is healthy.

“Yes, but there’s obvious that protocol, a lot goes into that. We’ll see,” Stefanski said after the Browns fell to 2-8.

Gabriel completed 7 of 10 passes for 68 yards before exiting. He apparently was injured in the second quarter as Sanders took the field for Cleveland’s first possession of the third quarter. Gabriel was officially ruled out of the contest with just more than five minutes left in the third quarter.

Gabriel was a third-round pick in the 2025 draft and Sanders was selected in the fifth round, way later than he expected after being a college standout at Colorado. He is the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.

Cleveland entered training camp with four quarterbacks, including veterans Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco. Pickett was traded before the season to the Raiders and Flacco opened the campaign as the Cleveland starter before being dealt to the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 7, two days after Gabriel started in his place.

Asked about Sanders’ debut performance, Stefanski took a middle-of-the-road approach.

“Look, we trust our guys to perform. He’s no different,” Stefanski said. “Playing a backup quarterback role, that’s tough to come in there but we trust him. I know there’s things that he’s going to want to do better but that’s why we work.”

Sanders said he’s looking forward to throwing with all the receivers and tight ends in practice this week. He said he wants another chance to play.

“The most I can ask for is the opportunity,” Sanders said. “They gave me the opportunity. I didn’t do up to my expectations, didn’t do enough to get us the win.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) leaves the field following the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Browns add QB Shedeur Sanders (back) to injury list

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cleveland Browns added rookie Shedeur Sanders to the injury report on Saturday and elevated fellow quarterback Bailey Zappe from the practice squad.

Sanders is dealing with a back issue and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest between the Browns (2-5) and New England Patriots (5-2) in Foxborough, Mass. Zappe will back up rookie Dillon Gabriel if Sanders is unavailable.

Sanders, 23, was drafted in the fifth round in April. The son of Pro Football Hall of Fame member and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders has yet to make his regular-season debut.

Gabriel, 24, recorded his first NFL victory with a 31-6 defeat of the Miami Dolphins last weekend. The third-round pick has completed 59.8% of his passes for 546 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in five games (three starts).

Zappe, 26, has a 4-5 record with the New England Patriots (2022-23) and Browns (2024). He last played in a regular-season game in Week 18 in 2024, losing 35-10 to the host Baltimore Ravens.

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) warms up before the game between the Browns and the Green Bay Packers at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Browns elevate QB Shedeur Sanders to backup role

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Shedeur Sanders will back up fellow rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel when Cleveland visits the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Friday.

Sanders, the son of Colorado head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, ascended to the No. 2 spot following this week’s trade of veteran Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Inactive for the first five games, Sanders was buried on the depth chart two months ago before Cleveland parted ways with Kenny Pickett (traded to Las Vegas Raiders), Tyler Huntley (released) and Flacco.

“I’m overly confident within myself,” Sanders said Thursday, per ESPN. “I know when I first got here I’m ready to play, but that’s up to the coaches and whatever decision they make, I’m fine with it.”

The Browns (1-4) are already 0-2 in the AFC North heading into this Week 6 clash with the division-leading Steelers (3-1).

Sanders, a projected first-round pick, slipped to the fifth round in April’s draft where the Browns grabbed him with the 144th pick — 50 spots after taking Gabriel in the third round.

Gabriel, 24, made his first NFL start last weekend in London and completed 19 of 33 passes for 190 yards with two touchdowns in a 21-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Sanders, 23, was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year last season with the Buffaloes. He completed 74 percent of his passes for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns and rushed for four scores in 13 games.

Cleveland’s once overcrowded quarterback room now includes Bailey Zappe (practice squad) and Deshaun Watson (PUP list).

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Browns QB Dillon Gabriel confident entering first start vs. Vikings

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Ready or not, Dillon Gabriel will make his first NFL start on Sunday.

Gabriel, a 24-year-old whom the Cleveland Browns selected in the third round out of Oregon this spring, insists that he is as prepared as he will ever be.

“You wait for the perfect time, you’re going to wait for a lifetime,” Gabriel said. “So, for me, I’ve always been ready.”

Gabriel will take over under center when Cleveland (1-3) kicks off against the Minnesota Vikings (2-2) on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski announced that he would make a change at quarterback after his team lost 34-10 against the Detroit Lions a week ago. He benched Joe Flacco, a 40-year-old veteran who had six interceptions to go along with two touchdowns through the season’s first four games.

In comes Gabriel, whom the Browns drafted at No. 94 overall. He has appeared in two games in backup duty, completing three of his four passes for 19 yards and one touchdown.

Flacco will serve as Cleveland’s No. 2 quarterback behind Gabriel, and rookie Shedeur Sanders will remain as the team’s third signal-caller.

Stefanski said the entire team needed to improve, not just one position.

“We need to coach better, we need to block better, catch better, run better — all of the above, we need to be better,” Stefanski said. “And I know the quarterback position gets quite a bit of scrutiny. I understand that. But this is about our entire team playing better.”

The Vikings also will look for improvement on both sides of the ball.

Minnesota is coming off a 24-21 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week in the NFL’s first-ever game in Dublin. The Vikings scored the final 15 points of the game but could not complete the comeback after falling behind 24-6.

Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz is slated to make his third start of the season against Cleveland. He has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 523 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions.

Rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy is progressing from his high ankle sprain but is expected to remain out. Wentz has the confidence of Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and the rest of the staff.

“I’ve been really happy with him,” O’Connell said. “If you really peel back the layers on it, he’s two tipped-ball interceptions from having a pretty clean sheet and running our offense, helping us score some points.

“Consistency amongst all 11 guys on offense, regardless of who’s in, is what we’re looking for. Because we feel when we do the little things … we can have a good day on offense.”

Justin Jefferson is Wentz’s clear-cut No. 1 target in the passing game. Jefferson has 22 catches for 326 yards and one touchdown in four games, which is considerably more than No. 2 target T.J. Hockenson, who has 13 catches for 115 yards and one touchdown.

For the Browns, Jerry Jeudy leads all receivers with 182 yards on 13 catches. Rookie Quinshon Judkins is the team’s top rusher with 49 carries for 237 yards and two touchdowns.

This is the 17th regular-season meeting between the teams. Minnesota leads the series 11-5, but Cleveland won the most recent meeting 14-7 in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Browns make rookie Dillon Gabriel starter, QB41 since 1999

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Before changing continents, the Cleveland Browns are switching quarterbacks.

Rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel will start Sunday in London, replacing Joe Flacco as the QB1 for the Browns. Cleveland (1-3) plays the Minnesota Vikings (2-2) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the team is traveling for the Week 5 game on Wednesday.

Gabriel was named the No. 2 quarterback to Flacco on Aug. 26 when the Browns made the expected decision to begin the season with the 40-year-old veteran in the starting role. But Cleveland has 56 total points in four games and hasn’t scored more than 17 in a game this season.

Flacco completed 93 of 160 passes for 815 yards and two touchdowns. He has an NFL-high eight turnovers, including six interceptions.

Gabriel has appeared in two games in mop-up duty. He completed all three of his passes for 19 yards and one TD to running back Dylan Sampson in Week 2 at Baltimore, and was 0 for 1 last week in late-game relief at Detroit.

Minnesota’s defense is a major test for most quarterbacks, no less a rookie making his first career start.

The Vikings run a complex scheme orchestrated by Brian Flores predicated on blitz and coverage disguise that keeps even well-trained vets guessing. Since becoming defensive coordinator of the Vikings, Flores is 4-0 against rookie quarterbacks.

Flacco, described as the most natural thrower in the NFL by Packers coach Matt LaFleur earlier this season, was known for his arm strength and ability to get the ball down the field with ease. He will be the No. 2 QB in London with rookie fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders in the No. 3 role. The fourth quarterback involved in the training camp competition was Kenny Pickett, but the Browns traded him to the Raiders.

Gabriel, 24, is not entirely inexperienced after six seasons in college at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon. He received a share of the first-team reps in training camp and through the start of the regular season in an early signal the Browns were preparing him for the top role.

In 63 college starts, Gabriel set the FBS record with 189 total touchdowns (155 passing, 33 rushing, one receiving) and is second all-time in passing yards (18,722).

Oregon and Oklahoma operated an up-tempo spread offense with shorter, high-percentage throws than a traditional pro-style scheme. At 5-foot-11, Gabriel does require a quick release and cleaner pass protection than the 6-foot-6 Flacco.

Gabriel will become the 41st quarterback to start for the Browns since Tim Couch in 1999, when the Cleveland franchise returned to the NFL.

A full list of Browns players to make at least one start since 1999:

Tim Couch (59), Baker Mayfield (59), Derek Anderson (34), Colt McCoy (21), Brandon Weeden (20), Charlie Frye (19), Brian Hoyer (16), DeShone Kizer (15), Kelly Holcomb (12), Brady Quinn (12), Deshaun Watson (12), Trent Dilfer (11), Jacoby Brissett (11), Josh McCown (11), Jeff Garcia (10), Joe Flacco (9), Doug Pederson (8), Jason Campbell (8), Johnny Manziel (8), Cody Kessler (8), Seneca Wallace (7), Dorian Thompson-Robinson (5), Robert Griffin III (5), Jake Delhomme (4), Luke McCown (4), Ken Dorsey (3), Tyrod Taylor (3), Ty Detmer (2), Austin Davis (2), Case Keenum (2), P.J. Walker (2), Bailey Zappe (1), Spergon Wynn (1), Bruce Gradkowski (1), Thad Lewis (1), Connor Shaw (1), Kevin Hogan (1), Nick Mullens (1) and Jeff Driskel (1).

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

Browns not considering QB change despite Joe Flacco’s struggles

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cleveland Browns are 0-2 and have scored just 33 total points so far, but coach Kevin Stefanski claimed that the team isn’t considering a change at quarterback.

Joe Flacco started the first two games of the season and has not been effective. Late in Sunday’s 41-17 road blowout at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, he was replaced by rookie Dillon Gabriel, who led a touchdown drive.

Asked if the Browns will think about a permanent change, Stefanski answered in the negative.

“I don’t think we did good enough. I think that collectively as a team, we as an offense, we as the coaching staff, all of us didn’t do a good enough job,” Stefanski said.

Flacco, 40, finished the day 25-for-45 passing for 199 yards — just 4.4 yards per attempt — with one touchdown and one interception. He also lost a fumble. He had 290 passing yards and a touchdown in a Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals but was picked off twice.

Gabriel, 24, made his NFL debut in the fourth quarter and completed all three of his passes for 19 yards, the last one an 8-yard touchdown to Dylan Sampson.

Gabriel is the second-string quarterback on Cleveland’s depth chart, and Shedeur Sanders is the third-stringer. Both were taken in the middle rounds of the NFL draft this past April.

Flacco, who was given the starting job in camp at the outset of his 18th NFL season, said he can’t worry about his job security.

“It’s honestly not on my mind,” Flacco said. “I got to go out there and just play my game, play the way I know how to. Lead this team the best I can. All that other stuff, it is out of my control. It is what it is. I mean, the only thing I can control is how I play and how this team shows up every day. So, it really isn’t in the thought process.”

–Field Level Media

Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, facing, chats with quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during training camp July 30, 2025, in Berea.

Browns to name QB1 this week

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski plans to identify a starting quarterback for the 2025 regular-season opener “this week,” as Cleveland completes the preseason portion of the schedule and shifts its focus to the Sept. 7 date with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Stefanski did not provide further details on the timing of his decision, with 40-year-old Joe Flacco considered the most likely pick because of his experience and excellence in a brief stint with the team two years ago.

Stefanski said he could make the announcement as soon as Monday. The Browns wrap up their exhibition schedule Saturday versus the Los Angeles Rams.

“We still anticipate all of our players, whether you’re a starter or not, to prepare like you’re the starter,” Stefanski said. “Knowing all of our players in that room, that’s exactly what they’ll do.”

Flacco is taking the majority of the first-team reps this month on the practice field but hasn’t played in the preseason.

“We’re working towards Week 1,” Stefanski said. “That’s part of what this week is about, getting our football team ready. So, we’ll make all those types of determinations in the next couple of days.”

Cleveland drafted Dillon Gabriel in the third round of the 2025 draft and selected Shedeur Sanders 50 picks later. The Browns also acquired former first-round pick Kenny Pickett from the Eagles. Pickett has been limited in training camp by a hamstring injury. Sanders, who threw two TD passes in the preseason opener, was not available for Saturday’s exhibition win over Philadelphia because of a strained oblique.

Flacco was signed off the couch to be a backup in 2023, when Stefanski said he proved “elite” arm strength in a workout one week before Thanksgiving when injuries ravaged the QB room. He wound up in the starting lineup when rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson was placed in concussion protocol. Thompson-Robinson was only in the lineup due to an injury to Deshaun Watson, who is expected to miss the 2025 season recovering from multiple Achilles surgeries.

Flacco led the Browns to the playoffs, then was allowed to leave in free agency on a one-year deal with the Colts. He re-signed with the Browns in March.

Flacco previously played for the Baltimore Ravens (2008-18), Denver Broncos (2019) and New York Jets (2020-22).

–Field Level Media

Jul 28, 2025; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) and quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throw passes during training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Shedeur Sanders hurt, Dillon Gabriel to start vs. Eagles if healthy

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Cleveland plans to start another rookie quarterback when the Browns visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday afternoon.

If third-round pick Dillon Gabriel’s hamstring holds up through joint practices with the Eagles this week, he’ll take his turn as Cleveland’s QB1 following a strong debut from fifth-round quarterback Shedeur Sanders last week.

“The plan was always to give both of those guys starts in the preseason, so we’ll see how it shakes out,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said on Wednesday, adding Gabriel had to clear hurdles with a sore hamstring the next two days if he wants to take the field first this weekend.

Stefanski made the comments before the team practiced on Wednesday, and prior to what could be an obstacle to Sanders building on his first outing and claiming a significant role.

Sanders halted participation in throwing drills and appeared to be injured in Wednesday’s joint practice with the Eagles, further complicating matters for Stefanski.

Kenny Pickett, acquired from the Eagles in an offseason trade, is not available for 11-on-11 work because of a hamstring injury.

There’s only one quarterback on the roster who hasn’t been sent to the training tent this summer.

Cleveland hasn’t committed to playing Joe Flacco, the purported No. 1 QB on the depth chart, in preseason games to preserve the 40-year-old’s health.

Gabriel was selected 94th overall in the 2025 draft after putting up big numbers at three college stops: UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon. Still on the board 50 picks later, the Browns chose Sanders to end a well-publicized draft weekend crash from projections of a top-50 draft rating.

Gabriel said he won’t put too much in the opportunity if he starts against the reigning Super Bowl champions.

“I try to just stay in the moment. I’ll look forward to that moment once it comes and be right where my feet are,” Gabriel said. “The best competitors know how to stay present and be themselves by competing at a high level one play at a time.”

Sanders received high marks from Stefanski after the Browns’ coaching staff reviewed the film of his two-TD showing in last Friday’s win over the Carolina Panthers.

“Certainly, for a quarterback, that next step is getting in the game settings and taking the practice field to the game. And I thought that’s what we saw by and large from Shedeur (Sanders),” Stefanski said. “That’s what we saw by and large from our offense was really taking those things that we’re homing in on, on the practice field and then showing them in the games, and it goes back to the previous point where we want to vary our offense.”

–Field Level Media

Jun 12, 2025; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) and quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during mini camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Browns: Shedeur Sanders to play, might start, this week at Eagles

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kevin Stefanski is holding off on naming a starter for the Browns’ preseason game with the Philadelphia Eagles this week while rookie Dillon Gabriel and veteran Kenny Pickett inch closer to rejoining the competition to be Cleveland’s QB1.

Fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders generated significant buzz with a two-TD performance in the preseason opener.

Gabriel, a third-round pick out of Oregon, and former first-round pick Pickett are limited by hamstring injuries. Gabriel was able to participate in some 11-on-11 drills on Monday, Stefanski said, but Pickett is a bit behind health-wise.

Sanders completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards against the Carolina Panthers in a 30-10 win Friday and is in the mix to start this week at Philadelphia.

“I’m not there yet,” Stefanski said Monday of when he’s planning to make the call on this week’s starter.

The Browns did commit to getting Sanders reps in this week’s game, but he could play in the second half depending on which players are available.

As for who will enter the 2025 season as Cleveland’s QB1, Stefanski said he plans to make the determination before the third preseason game on Aug. 23 against the Los Angeles Rams.

Veteran Joe Flacco is considered the most likely starter for the Browns when the regular season begins Sept. 7. Cleveland opens the 2025 season against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals.

Flacco did not play in the preseason opener.

–Field Level Media