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3w ago

Browns Turn to Rookie Dillon Gabriel as Week 5 Starter in London

Cleveland demotes Joe Flacco and keeps Shedeur Sanders as QB3 to speed its evaluation of young quarterbacks after a 1-3 start.

CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Dillon Gabriel #5 and Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns look on prior to an NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Los Angeles Rams at Huntington Bank Field on August 23, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
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Sep 14, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) drops back to pass during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • The team announced Gabriel will start Sunday against the Vikings in London, with Flacco as the backup and Sanders designated the emergency third quarterback.
  • Gabriel has logged limited duty this season, going 3-for-3 for 19 yards and a touchdown, and his overseas debut was reported as the first NFL starting debut held outside the United States.
  • Flacco was benched after four games in which he posted 815 passing yards with two touchdowns, six interceptions and a league-high eight turnovers during the 1-3 opening.
  • Sanders declined to speak about the depth-chart decision and instead pantomimed answers in the locker room, drawing criticism from former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky.
  • Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Gabriel has prepared and is ready to start, while former Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III claimed the locker room prefers Sanders.