BroBible
The Cleveland Browns will soon begin the regular season with a Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Until then, quarterbacks will continue to jockey for position on the depth chart.
Joe Flacco is expected to be the starter. Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Kenny Pickett, and Tyler Huntley are the other passers currently on the roster.
Despite the QB1 tag, Flacco did not play in the preseason opener. Neither did Pickett or Gabriel as they recovered from injury.
That left Sanders and Huntley to share the snaps in a 30-10 win over the Panthers.
Gabriel and Huntley split the work in Game 2, a 22-13 win over Philadelphia. The difference between the three has been minimal.
Sanders: 14-23, 138 YD, 2 TD
Gabriel: 13-18, 143 YD, 1 INT
Huntley: 16-22, 122 YD, 1 TD
For now, though, they’re battling for the top reserve spot.
This will be the last preseason contest. The staff wants to give the veteran an opportunity to knock off the rust before the opener.
The plan at this point is for Flacco to start, Gabriel to relieve him, and Sanders to finish out the game.
Flacco didn’t instill confidence in the fanbase with his recent performance on the practice field. The Browns did their best to create unnecessary drama by posting a lowlight clip.
Captain Carson flying in pic.twitter.com/y5Zg36qpke
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 21, 2025
It’s just one throw of a training camp session. Limits are meant to be tested. Mistakes will be made. But as is often the case with social media, an overreaction followed.
Is Flacco ready for the season? Is he washed up? Should one of the younger players replace him?
These were all questions asked in the comments section. They’ll have very little impact on the Browns’ quarterback decision.
Still, it may not have been the best week to reignite a fanbase that’s still processing an unexpected QB room beef.
Before making his Cleveland Browns debut, Gabriel went viral while speaking with a reporter on the sideline.
“There are entertainers and there are competitors, and I understand that, but it’s my job to go out and compete.”
-Dillon Gabriel
Many took it as a shot at Sanders. The signal caller quickly clarified after the fact, denying that his comment was aimed a teammate.
“I’m all about the team,” Gabriel said. “I’ve said it before, so it’s interesting, but for me, I’ve explained it. Entertainers are you all [in the media]. Competitor – that’s what I am and all my teammates. We both have jobs to do. That’s it.”
Too late. The damage had been done.
Sanders saw the clip on social media. He responded at practice on Thursday. He’s not 100% sold on Gabriel’s explanation.
#Browns Shedeur Sanders talked to Dillon Gabriel about his “entertainers and competitors” quote: pic.twitter.com/U8kfFjyBFh
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