The Cleveland Browns are focused on Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback and aren’t even thinking about Dillon Gabriel playing.
Gabriel replaced Flacco in Week 2, but Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was adamant that the veteran would remain the starter. However, given that Gabriel played well, many wondered if he would be back starting soon.
However, ahead of Cleveland’s Week 3 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, Stefanski says he isn’t even thinking about Gabriel playing games.
“Yeah, that’s not our focus. Our focus is to put a game plan together and try to beat a really good Packers team,” Stefanski said.
Gabriel went 3-for-3 for 19 yards and one touchdown in relief of Flacco. But, despite playing well, he won’t be part of any game plan this week or going forward for the Browns.
Cleveland selected Gabriel with the 94th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after finishing his college career at Oregon.
Flacco Knows Browns Offense Has to be Better
Although Flacco was benched last week, he remains confident in himself and the offense.
However, the Browns‘ veteran quarterback believes Cleveland needs to take advantage when the defense gets big stops as they have been.
“Well, I think, first of all, good football teams and good offenses, you know, because you’re good, you do those things,” Flacco said. “But I think when you do talk about those things, as a team, you always talk about playing complementary football. Sometimes when it’s not pretty, it doesn’t mean it’s not good. And there’s going to be times where you’re going to have to punt the ball and pin them back and rely on those guys to get a stop and get us good field position.
“I think as an offense, when you are talking about playing complementary football, it’s realizing some of those things throughout the course of a game that sometimes even though things don’t feel great, that it still may be a positive,” Flacco added. “Then when we do get our chances, just taking advantage of that. So, if we do get short fields and stuff like that, taking advantage when we get the opportunity.”
Flacco has thrown for 489 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions this season.
Insider Believes Gabriel Will Start Soon
Although Stefanski says Flacco will remain the starting quarterback, one insider expects Gabriel to play soon.
Browns insider Tony Rizzo of ESPN believes Gabriel will get into game action this week as he expects Flacco to struggle.
“Gabriel is going to play, it’s just a matter of when,” Rizzo said. “Tony (Grossi) asked the coaches, and the coaches said ‘We aren’t going to think about that.’ I’m going to tell you if the Browns are getting beat, 10-0 or 14-3 at halftime, I would not be surprised to see coach Stefanksi put in Gabriel.”
The Packers have a great defense, so if Flacco does struggle again, perhaps Gabriel does get put into game action again.
But, for now, Gabriel remains the backup. But it does seem like a matter of time until he starts some games down the stretch.
Browns Coach Gives Dillon Gabriel Bad News Ahead of Week 3