The Cleveland Browns are in a quarterback dilemma and the offense has struggled through a 2-5 start. Cleveland ranks near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories. The team benched Week 1 starter Joe Flacco, traded him, and handed the job to rookie Dillon Gabriel. That change has not produced a spark, and the game plans have often been conservative.
Kevin Stefanski explained why Shedeur Sanders has not received the same first-team practice reps Gabriel got when Flacco was still on the roster. “With a young quarterback, with Dillon starting, you want to make sure he gets a lot of the reps. It’s different when you have a veteran with Joe,” Stefanski said. He added that Sanders is “still getting reps in a bunch of periods,” but did not specify exactly what that looks like daily.
Browns HC Kevin Stefanski said that rookie QB Shedeur Sanders hasn't been getting practice reps with the first-team offense like Dillon Gabriel did when Joe Flacco was the starter because "with a young quarterback, with Dillon starting, you want to make sure he gets a lot of the…
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) October 22, 2025
Sanders’ rise in Cleveland has been steady but cautious. Projected by some as a higher pick, he fell to the fifth round at pick 144 while the Browns selected Gabriel roughly 50 slots earlier. Sanders impressed in the preseason against the Panthers, throwing two touchdown passes, then struggled in the finale against the Rams where he was sacked five times and showed areas that need work. Insider Mary Kay Cabot said, “Shedeur Sanders' development has gone really, really well behind the scenes, making progress in every way, including in all the ways they needed him to.”
Ian Rapoport reported the expectation remains the Browns will give Sanders a look at some point, but the staff has clearly prioritized reps for the player who is starting now. With Gabriel the chosen starter, the coaching staff wants him to build timing and familiarity with the first-team offense.
Dillon Gabriel's struggles and the ask for Shedeur debut
Dillon Gabriel’s time as the Browns’ starting quarterback hasn’t gone as planned. While Cleveland handed him the job after Joe Flacco’s trade, the rookie has struggled to make the offense move. His conservative approach has limited big plays, and the Browns remain one of the league’s weakest offenses. Through three starts, Gabriel has thrown for just 546 yards with three touchdowns and a 59.8% completion rate, ranking near the bottom among all qualified quarterbacks.
Most of Gabriel’s passes are short and safe. Out of his 98 total attempts, 66 have gone for nine yards or less that’s nearly 67% of his throws. He’s completed only 11 of 28 intermediate passes (10–19 yards) and just one of four attempts beyond 20 yards. His average depth of target (6.1) and yards per attempt (5.1) both rank 34th among 34 qualifying quarterbacks, showing how limited Cleveland’s passing game has become under him.
If it seems like Dillon Gabriel is only throwing short passes and check downs, that’s because he is.
In 3 starts:
- 98 total pass attempts
- 66 attempts at 9 yards or less
- Just 11/28 to intermediate range (10-19)
- Just 1/4 on passes over 20 yards
This results in (out of… pic.twitter.com/WkCj9qcmjE
— The Dawgs - A Cleveland Browns Podcast (@thedawgspodcast) October 21, 2025
Even worse, Gabriel’s “safe” style hasn’t protected the ball entirely. He’s already committed six turnover-worthy plays, ranking 20th in that category with one of the highest rates in the league (4.6%). As his struggles continue, pressure builds for the Browns to give fan-favorite Shedeur Sanders a shot, a move many believe is only a matter of time.
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