Browns: Dillon Gabriel, the QB 41, takes over against Vikings in London

Dillon Gabriel Takes Over as Starter for the Browns: A New Chapter in the Offense

In an unexpected turn, rookie Dillon Gabriel is preparing to lead the Cleveland Browns’ offense as the starting quarterback. The news, which leaked on Wednesday, marks a significant change for the team and tests the young player’s preparation.

When he sent me the photo, it just lists the obvious, right? Like, the doors are open, the garage doors are open, things are ready to go, they’re just waiting for that phone call to surgically respond. Just, what a great representation of the work I have and being ready for that moment.

Dillon Gabriel

Gabriel, selected in the third round of the draft, becomes the 41st quarterback to start a game for the Browns since their return to the NFL in 1999, the most in the league during that period. This appointment comes after Joe Flacco, who led the team in the playoffs in 2023, failed to achieve the expected performance in the first weeks of the season. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has been working hard to develop Gabriel and also rookie Shedeur Sanders, preparing them for success. This Sunday, Gabriel, who will make his debut as a starter in an international game against the Minnesota Vikings in London, will test the team’s strategy. Stefanski highlighted the importance of intentionality in the development of quarterbacks, involving quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, as well as the player development team. The goal is to ensure that players are ready for the challenge.

The Browns’ offense, which has struggled to score points in the early weeks, will seek a boost with Gabriel at the helm. The coach announced that Flacco will be the backup and Sanders will continue as the third quarterback and emergency QB. In addition, Deshaun Watson is in the process of recovering from an Achilles tendon injury and has been sharing videos of his workouts. The team also added Bailey Zappe, who spent time with the Browns last season, to their practice squad. Gabriel, 24 years old, impressed the team during the pre-draft process, demonstrating his ability to remember concepts and process information. Despite his height, Cleveland’s coaches do not believe this will affect his game. The decision to name Gabriel as the starter was based on his performance during training camp and the preseason. The team also prepared for this situation, distributing practice time among multiple quarterbacks, including Gabriel, Sanders, and Zappe. Zappe emphasized the importance of refining the mechanics during practices and using the same game base regardless of the scheme. Gabriel, for his part, has taken advantage of the practices to work on throws and stay up-to-date with the game. Musgrave acknowledged the challenges of finding an effective weekly routine for Gabriel and Sanders, especially with limited practice time. The team is using drills and simulations to maximize learning opportunities.

Sanders, who has been a starter throughout his college career, is taking advantage of this opportunity to improve. Zappe highlights the benefits of practices for refining mechanics and mental preparation. Gabriel, with 63 career starts, the most in FBS history, faces an unusual schedule this week, with a trip to London after practicing in Ohio. The team will hold a workout on Thursday and practice on Friday. Stefanski praised Gabriel’s hard work and his ability to learn and adapt to the dynamics of the NFL.

In a recent example, the New York Giants promoted their rookie quarterback, Jaxson Dart, who showed signs of improvement in the offense. Giants coach Brian Daboll highlighted the importance of carefully evaluating a rookie quarterback’s preparation. Although Sanders remains the third quarterback, there is anticipation about when he will make his debut. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has expressed the importance of both rookies playing. For now, the focus is on Gabriel and his debut as a starter.