...
By Matt Audilet
Contributing Sports Writer
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The Cleveland Browns have one of the most closely-followed quarterback rooms in the league.
After starting the season with veteran quarterback Joe Flacco under center, the Browns elevated third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel to the QB1 position for a Week 5 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Gabriel has been the Browns' starting quarterback for each of the last three games, and will make his fourth career start against the New England Patriots in Week 8. The former Oregon quarterback notched his first career win in Week 7, taking down the Miami Dolphins with a 31-6 final score.
Read More on NFL
The Browns are 2-5 to begin the 2025 NFL season, and many fans are hoping to see a different quarterback under center at some point this year: fifth-round rookie signal-caller Shedeur Sanders.
...
More Football: Browns Pushed to Aggressively Pursue Star WR Before NFL Trade Deadline
Earlier in the season when Flacco served as the team's starting quarterback, Gabriel took practice reps with the first-team unit. Now, Gabriel is taking all the first-team reps as Sanders works with the second team.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski justified this decision during his media availability on Wednesday.
"With a young quarterback, with Dillon starting, you want to make sure he gets a lot of the reps. It's different when you have a veteran with Joe," Stefanski said, via team insider Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.
Stefanski added that Sanders is "still getting reps in a bunch of periods."
More Football: Raiders Announce Huge Update on Brock Bowers’ Injury Return
Through his three career NFL starts, Gabriel has completed 59.8% of his pass attempts for 546 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. The No. 94 overall pick has taken 10 sacks as leader of the Browns' offensive unit, which ranks near the bottom of the league in most categories.
Sanders has yet to take the field for any regular-season action with the Browns, but he moved up in the depth chart when Flacco was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals before Week 6.
Gabriel and the Browns have a tough task ahead against Drake Maye and the red-hot Patriots, who've notched wins in each of their last four games.
Sunday's Week 8 matchup will kickoff at 1 p.m. ET from New England's Gillette Stadium.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines