Quick Read
- Browns bench veteran Joe Flacco after a 1-3 start.
- Rookie Dillon Gabriel will make his first NFL start in London against the Vikings.
- Flacco threw 6 interceptions and just 2 touchdowns in 4 games.
- Gabriel was drafted in the third round after an impressive college career at Oregon.
- Shedeur Sanders remains third on the Browns’ quarterback depth chart.
Browns Turn to Dillon Gabriel in Search of Offensive Revival
After a rocky start to the season, the Cleveland Browns are making headlines—and perhaps history—by handing the reins of their offense to rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel. The announcement came Wednesday morning, as head coach Kevin Stefanski gathered his players to deliver news that could mark a turning point for the franchise. Gabriel, a third-round pick from Oregon, will start Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings in London, replacing 40-year-old veteran Joe Flacco.
Joe Flacco’s Struggles and the Browns’ Offensive Woes
Joe Flacco, the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, was brought in this offseason to stabilize the quarterback position. He emerged from a crowded quarterback room, earning the starting job after a public competition in training camp. Yet, the veteran’s tenure has been marred by turnovers and stagnant scoring. In four starts, Flacco threw for 815 yards on 93 completions out of 160 attempts, with just two touchdowns and six interceptions. His 27.0 QBR ranks just above rookie Cam Ward of the Titans, a sobering stat for a player with Flacco’s pedigree.
Last Sunday’s 34-10 loss to the Detroit Lions was the final straw. Flacco threw two interceptions and the Browns managed only one touchdown, continuing a pattern of offensive frustration. Through four games, Cleveland has averaged a paltry 14 points per contest, the second-lowest in the NFL. The team hasn’t scored more than 17 points in a game this season, despite frequent changes in the offensive line and an injury to starting wide receiver Cedric Tillman.
Coach Stefanski was candid after the Detroit defeat: “We have to play better and we have to coach better. This is not about one person. My focus is on making sure the offense plays better.” The numbers, however, made the decision inevitable. As reported by ESPN and Yahoo Sports, Flacco will serve as Gabriel’s backup, while rookie Shedeur Sanders remains third on the depth chart.
Dillon Gabriel’s Path to the Starting Role
Dillon Gabriel’s journey to this moment is a testament to persistence and adaptability. After a collegiate career spanning UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon, Gabriel finished his final season by leading the Ducks to an unbeaten regular season, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors and finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting. He set the all-time FBS record with 155 career touchdown passes and posted 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns in his final campaign at Oregon.
Drafted 94th overall by the Browns in April, Gabriel spent most of training camp as the No. 2 quarterback. His position was solidified when Kenny Pickett was traded to the Raiders in late August. Gabriel’s preseason performances were promising: he completed 13 of 18 passes for 143 yards and an interception against the Eagles, then went 12 of 19 for 129 yards and a touchdown in the finale versus the Rams.
Gabriel has seen limited action in the regular season, appearing briefly in two blowout losses. He connected on all three passes for 19 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 against Baltimore and played the final series in the loss to Detroit, though he didn’t complete his lone attempt. Despite the small sample size, the Browns coaching staff saw enough in his accuracy, quick processing, and ability to create plays on the move to trust him with the starting job.
What’s Next for the Browns?
The quarterback change comes as the Browns prepare for a transatlantic matchup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. At 1-3, Cleveland faces a Vikings team seeking redemption after a European loss to the Steelers. The Browns, meanwhile, will be missing several key pieces, including Cedric Tillman, and may feature a new offensive line combination following the acquisition of veteran left tackle Cam Robinson.
Gabriel’s first start will be under intense scrutiny—not just because of the venue, but because it represents a strategic gamble for a franchise desperate for stability at quarterback. Since returning to the NFL in 1999, the Browns have cycled through 41 different starting quarterbacks. Gabriel’s debut marks another chapter in a long search for consistency and leadership at the game’s most pivotal position.
For Flacco, the shift to backup may signal the twilight of his storied career. His future in Cleveland—and the NFL—is now uncertain, as the team looks ahead to a new era with Gabriel. The rookie’s ability to adapt to the speed and complexity of NFL defenses will be tested immediately, and the rest of the season could hinge on his performance.
As Reuters notes, the Browns’ only win this season relied on a blocked field goal as time expired. If Gabriel can inject life into the offense and reduce turnovers, he could help salvage a campaign that, until now, has been defined by missed opportunities and frustration.
In making the switch from Joe Flacco to Dillon Gabriel, the Browns are embracing both risk and hope. Flacco’s experience provided stability, but not results; Gabriel’s youth offers promise, but no guarantees. This decision, rooted in necessity, underscores the franchise’s ongoing struggle to find a lasting solution at quarterback—and, more broadly, a winning identity. Whether Gabriel can ignite a turnaround or simply become the latest name in Cleveland’s long quarterback carousel will be revealed in the weeks to come.