Browns Quarterback Dillon Gabriel Faces Pressure with Shedeur Sanders Waiting

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel finds himself under pressure as he navigates his role as the team’s starter, with rookie Shedeur Sanders looming as a potential contender for the position.

Gabriel replaced veteran Joe Flacco in Week 5, but his performance has been underwhelming. With a record of 1-2 as a starter, Gabriel has managed to avoid turnovers but cannot lift a struggling offense that ranks 38th among qualifying quarterbacks in the NFL.

Mary Kay Cabot, a Browns insider at cleveland.com, reported that Gabriel’s tendency to play it safe could enable Sanders to step into the starting role sooner than expected. “With Sanders coming up the learning curve quickly, Gabriel must demonstrate he can run an explosive passing attack, or the Browns will be tempted to see what Sanders can do,” Cabot stated.

Brad Stainbrook, another Browns insider, agreed. “People in Berea continue to be very impressed with Shedeur Sanders. His development has turned heads inside the building, and there’s a real sense of excitement about where he’s headed,” he added. “It’s not a matter of if he plays this season; it’s a matter of when.”

Although Sanders was drafted in the fifth round, he faces challenges as the team’s number two quarterback, primarily due to not receiving first-team reps—something Gabriel benefited from when serving as Flacco’s backup. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski commented on the differences in practice reps, emphasizing the need for Gabriel to get more repetitions due to his starting role.

The weather conditions were unfavorable for both Gabriel and the Browns during their recent 31-6 victory, which relied more on the defense and running game than the passing game. Gabriel only managed to pass for 116 yards in the win.

Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees took responsibility for the lack of explosive plays. He noted, “We just have to put him in the right spots to see the coverage, trust what he’s seeing, and let it go. That starts with us as coaches.”

The Browns are set to face a tough opponent this week, and the pressure mounts on Gabriel to secure his position amidst the growing interest in Sanders.