The Browns will start rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel in place of veteran Joe Flacco in their Week 5 matchup in London, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The team confirmed that Gabriel would be taking over under center, as first reported by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz on Tuesday. Shedeur Sanders will remain in place as the third-string quarterback, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
Cleveland has long been expected to give Gabriel a try at some point this season. After four rough outings by Flacco – featuring a 2:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio and career lows of 5.1 yards per attempt and a 60.3 passer rating – the rookie will get his chance. Sunday will not be Gabriel’s debut, as he played at the end of blowout losses in Weeks 2 and 4, but it will be his first extended action in the pros.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski certainly did not choose the easiest or simplest week to make such a significant change. The Browns are in London this week, contending with a bevy of added factors including the time difference and lack of access to their usual facilities. They are also playing the Vikings, who have been across the pond since last Friday, giving them more time to acclimate.
Minnesota’s defense has also been a top-10 unit this season. They rank ninth in points allowed and seventh in total defense with the third-best passing defense. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has harassed opposing quarterbacks with a 35.8% blitz rate (fourth-highest) and a 31.7% pressure rate (second-highest) with a variety of creative pressure packages. As a result, Gabriel’s first NFL start could be a rough one, though Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand notes that the rookie may introduce a “quicker pace” to the Browns offense.
Stefanski addressed the quarterback change on Wednesday, saying of Gabriel (via ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi): “From the second he’s been here, he’s been working very hard. He’s a very intelligent young man. He’s done a nice job throughout practice and this whole season he’s been learning how to get yourself ready and understand the rhythm of an NFL week and what that looks like as a backup. Obviously now feel like he’s ready to go as a starter.”
Gabriel’s ascendance marks a number of milestones. He is the Browns’ 41st starting quarterback since the team was re-established in 1999, and the 12th quarterback in six years of Stefanski’s tenure, per Grossi. Gabriel is also the third rookie quarterback to start this season, and the first non-first-rounder.
With Cooper Rush expected to start in the place of an injured Lamar Jackson in Week 5, the AFC North’s quarterbacks are now Gabriel, Rush, Jake Browning in Cincinnati, and Aaron Rodgers in Steelers. Rodgers is the only Week 1 starter left standing, while Browning took over for Joe Burrow after he went down with turf toe.
Though Sanders will remain third on the depth chart, he could still play this season, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. Cleveland’s willingness to give one rookie a chance suggests that Sanders could receive a similar opportunity if Gabriel falters, though he will certainly get a few games to prove himself.
i think the Browns will be looking for a QB again but their defense is good enough to have them picking higher then you’d want to get one of the top QBs
If a team that won’t draft a QB like Tennessee gets the top pick, Cleveland is well armed to trade up since they have an extra first. Not that any quarterback in this draft is looking worth a high first and another first.
I get benching Flacco. I get taking a good look at Gabriel. I do not get making that move just in time for an overseas game against the Vikings defense. That feels like an unnecessary degree of difficulty for a first ever pro start.
Doesn’t have the pressure of playing in front of a disgruntled Cleveland crowd or the pressure of playing in front of an opposing team’s crowd?
However, “unnecessary degree of difficulty” totally tracks for Cleveland Browns decision making.
But also playing in a very different time zone against a team that’s been in Europe a week longer and facing a defense that can throw veterans for a loop.
Yeah, I don’t disagree, but I think maybe the flaw in your thinking is viewing things from the perspective of how a competent team should develop a rookie QB, whereas the Browns are not competent and went and wasted two draft slots on QBs that they don’t really seem keen on retaining, and so they’re throwing Gabriel out there just to see what he can do. I’m sure Sanders will get the same treatment later this year. It’s like Cleveland reversed the process by scouting their QBs *after* drafting the players.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with throwing a couple of darts at QB in a rebuilding year, especially when they brought in a lot of rookie talent and an extra first round pick. I think they should have invested more in their offensive line, but those middle round picks wouldn’t have changed that. If they get a long term backup they feel good about out of those two quarterbacks, that’s not a bad return.
@Oooof. They were saying the samething about dart going against the chargers with a good defense and alot of exotic looks. At this point the browns have thrown in the towel. Might as well get skilled players with the high picks that will help the quarterbacks next year
I didn’t think that move was wise either and don’t think it’s smooth sailing just because game worked okay. The Giants are facing different kinds of pressure than the Browns are. I probably would have waited two weeks to start him against Miami. I’m not sure what you mean with that last sentence, but for a team that’s thrown in the towel they’re at least feisty. The rookies look good and the defense can be nasty.
Because the Vikings defense harasses qbs is the exact reason they should start Gabriel. Flacco is as immobile as they come. At least Gabriel can run if pressured.