Following a 1-3 start to the season, the Cleveland Browns are reportedly preparing to bench veteran quarterback Joe Flacco in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel for their upcoming game against the Minnesota Vikings in London.
The potential change comes after Flacco’s difficult performance in a 34-10 loss to the Detroit Lions, where he committed three turnovers, completing just 16 of 34 passes for two interceptions. With the team struggling, the Browns appear ready to evaluate Gabriel, a third-round pick who started 64 games in college.
While Gabriel is poised to take the starting role, Head Coach Kevin Stefanski has remained non-committal about the backup position. When asked if fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders was ready to step into the QB2 role, Stefanski deflected, stating, “That’s not my focus right now.”
The team’s backup plan remains unclear, with either Flacco or scout team quarterback Bailey Zappe as other potential options. Should the team’s struggles continue, Sanders may get an opportunity to start later in the season, allowing the organization to assess its young talent ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, for which the Browns hold two first-round picks.
Source link
