Sportsnaut
Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam isn’t ready to hand over the quarterback reins to rookie Shedeur Sanders.
Speaking to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, Haslam said he wants to see more from Dillon Gabriel, who replaced Joe Flacco as the starter.
“Dillon has played three games, and that’s not a great sample (size),” Haslam said. “And one of them was in a monsoon. You could say he played two games. Shedeur’s making progress in practice, so we’re going continue to work with both of those guys.”
Gabriel picked up his first career victory when the Browns took down the Miami Dolphins 31-6 in Week 7. The rookie finished 13-of-18 for 116 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, snapping Cleveland’s three-game losing streak.
Haslam emphasized how crucial that win was for the organization’s momentum.
“The difference between winning and losing in the NFL is almost unexplainable if you’re not part of it,” Haslam explained. “We’ve been through a tough series of games, we lost three games in a row. The difference is monumental between winning and losing. It’s pass/fail. You either pass or you fail. And every week was the same. And to get a win is huge.”
Gabriel, whom the Browns selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, has completed 59.8% of his passes for 546 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, posting an 82.5 passer rating.
Since Gabriel took over as starter, he’s fielded questions about Sanders, whom the Browns surprisingly traded up to select in the fifth round. Sanders has yet to see the field this season, and it appears he won’t anytime soon as Cleveland rides with Gabriel.
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