Overview

• Cleveland fell 23-9 to the Steelers, dropping to 1-5 as Dillon Gabriel went 29-of-52 for 221 yards with six sacks and no touchdowns while Andre Szmyt provided all the points.
• Asked postgame if he considered inserting Sanders, Stefanski said “No,” and emphasized keeping Gabriel upright and continuing to coach the rookie starter.
• Sanders was promoted to the active roster as Gabriel’s backup after the Browns traded Joe Flacco to the Bengals earlier in the week; he had been the inactive emergency quarterback through five games.
• Bailey Zappe remained on the practice squad as the team kept Sanders at No. 2, and Cleveland also worked out former Bears quarterback Austin Reed, per the league transaction wire.
• Sanders urged a positive tone and pledged to support Gabriel, even as fan and media calls for him to play grew following the loss and outside reports floated speculative trade chatter linking him to the Saints.