BEREA -- The Cleveland Browns are set to travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers on Sunday, a place that has not been kind to the Browns or their quarterbacks--let alone rookie quarterbacks.
Dillon Gabriel is set to make his second start this Sunday. The Browns named Shedeur Sanders the backup on Friday. Sanders will be Gabriel's backup since the trade of Joe Flacco to the Bengals.
Dillon Gabriel (Photo: Getty, 247Sports)
On Wedneday, Kevin Stefanski said he going to use the week to make the determination as to who will be the backup quarterback on Sunday.
"I always have to be mindful of our players, and our players development and I want to make sure that I'm always doing what's best for our players and, of course, our team," Stefanski said. "But with young players, I'm always thinking about last week, making the change to Dillon. You have to think long and hard about that, because these are young players that you're so invested in their development. So, I'll let the week play out and make a decision later on."
Stefanski said his goal to is help them to have 'success.'
"I trust in all of our players," he said. "I trust in their ability and those types of things. I just always want to set our guys up for success."
Reading between the lines, it wouldn't have been a surprise if quarterback Bailey Zappe would have been elevated from the practice squad to be the backup for, at least, this game. Stefanski said his top concern is what is best for the 'development' of the quarterbacks. In other words, what is best for Sanders.
#Browns Shedeur Sanders said he feels he’s ready whenever he gets an opportunity pic.twitter.com/C2Jz2LbEzi
— Fred Greetham (@FredGreetham9) October 9, 2025
I didn't think that was a bad idea.
I have seen many rookies thrown into the fray before they were ready. When the Browns chose to trade backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs just before the 2022 season began, leaving then rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the backup to Deshaun Watson. When Watson was determined to not be able to play in the fourth game, just before game time, Thompson-Robinson was overwhelmed by the Ravens defense.
After making the announcement on Friday after practice, Stefanski was asked what made him go with Sanders as the backup.