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BEREA, Ohio – The Cleveland Browns are making a significant change at quarterback, naming rookie Dillon Gabriel as the starter for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings in London. Veteran Joe Flacco, who started the team’s first four games, will move to the backup role, with rookie Shedeur Sanders remaining the third-string option.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the decision, stating it was “best for the football team.” The move comes after Flacco’s struggles, which included throwing six interceptions this season, two of which occurred in the first half of Sunday’s 34-10 loss to the Detroit Lions.
Flacco currently leads the NFL with eight turnovers, and his 27.0 QBR ranks among the lowest qualifying passers, surpassing only Tennessee Titans rookie Cam Ward. The Browns’ offense has also struggled to find consistency, ranking as the NFL’s second-lowest scoring unit, averaging just 14 points per game through four contests.
Gabriel made brief appearances in relief of Flacco in the final series against both the Lions and in a Week 2 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens. His upcoming start will mark him as the 41st different quarterback to start for the Browns since their return to the NFL in 1999, the most in the league during that period.
Selected with the 94th pick in April’s draft, Gabriel, 24, brings a decorated collegiate career to the professional stage. The six-year college player, who played at UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon, holds the FBS record for most career quarterback starts (63) and is responsible for the most touchdowns (189). He also finished his college career tied with Case Keenum for the most passing touchdowns (155) in FBS history.
The coaching staff’s confidence in Gabriel has been evident, as he received significant practice repetitions with the starting offense during training camp and has continued to do so during the regular season. Stefanski expressed his belief in the young quarterback’s readiness.
“From the second he’s been here, he’s been working very hard,” Stefanski said. “He’s a very intelligent young man.
He’s done a nice job throughout practice, and this whole season he’s been learning how to get yourself ready and understand the rhythm of an NFL week and what that looks like as a backup. Obviously, now feel like he’s ready to go as a starter.”
Flacco, the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Browns after spending the 2024 season with the Indianapolis Colts. He initially emerged from a competitive quarterback room that also included Sanders and Kenny Pickett. Following Pickett’s trade to the Las Vegas Raiders, Gabriel was named the No. 2 quarterback, with Sanders serving as the emergency option.