Sportsnaut
The Browns will start rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel on Sunday in London against the Minnesota Vikings, according to multiple reports. After four weeks of offensive futility and quarterback Joe Flacco’s costly turnovers piling up, head coach Kevin Stefanski had no choice but to pivot. This is not a luxury decision. It is a matter of survival for a team whose season is teetering.
Gabriel’s promotion also adds intrigue to Cleveland’s quarterback room. Fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders has been vocal about wanting his own chance, but the Browns view Gabriel as the more game-ready option. Sanders may eventually get his shot, but the plan has always been to insert Gabriel ahead of Sanders. He’s a poised 24-year-old rookie with 60-plus collegiate starts. His mobility and temperament can better manage the chaos that has doomed Flacco.
Through four weeks, Cleveland ranks near the bottom of every major offensive metric. They are 31st in scoring, 31st in points per drive, and 31st in expected points added per drive. They have not scored more than 17 points in a game and have just one non-garbage time touchdown in each of the last three weeks. Without rookie running back Quinshon Judkins carrying the run game, the Browns are lifeless.
Gabriel offers a different skill set. While he is untested against a starting defense, his mobility gives the Browns an escape valve against pressure. That is critical against a Minnesota defense ranked third in the NFL in pressure rate under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. The Vikings disguise blitzes and force quarterbacks into hurried throws. Flacco’s lack of mobility made him a sitting target in similar situations against Green Bay and Detroit. Gabriel’s ability to roll out, extend plays and threaten defenses with his legs is exactly the element Stefanski needs to inject life into this system.
The switch also acknowledges reality in Cleveland’s quarterback room. Owner Jimmy Haslam said before the season that the Browns needed to see their rookie quarterbacks play this season. Gabriel was not supposed to be the answer this soon, but the alternative is a stagnant veteran who cannot protect the football. Sanders may still have a future role, but Gabriel’s steady approach in limited appearances has earned him the trust of Stefanski and his staff.
It is not a perfect solution. Gabriel had limited reps with the starting offense during camp, and the Browns’ wideouts have dropped 11 passes this season, the second most in the NFL. The offensive line has shuffled through four different starting combinations in four games and could be on its fifth in London after the trade for veteran tackle Cam Robinson. These are problems that no quarterback alone can fix.
Still, Stefanski cannot stand pat. With a defense that has carried its weight, the offense only needs to be competent to keep the season alive. Starting Flacco again after the debacle in Detroit would have signaled surrender. Turning to Gabriel guarantees nothing in London, but it gives the Browns...
