The Cleveland Browns are really struggling this season. The defense has returned to being one of the top units in the league after a down 2024, but the offense has struggled to do anything at all, resulting in the Browns sitting at just 2-7 on the year following Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets.
The Browns have started rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel at quarterback since benching veteran quarterback Joe Flacco (and then trading Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals), but he has not been up to the task.
Many fans and pundits have called for the Browns to start their other rookie signal caller, Shedeur Sanders, but head coach Kevin Stefanski has been steadfast in his support of Gabriel and letting him develop.
“We’re going to stick with Dillon (Gabriel)” as starting quarterback,” [Stefanski said, according to ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.](https://x.com/DanielOyefusi/status/1987632479604228315?s=20)
“I think with young quarterbacks, it’s an understanding that there’s gonna be ups and downs. Can Dillon play better? Yes, he can. Can we play better around him? Yes, we can. Can we coach him better?
“Yes, we can. So, I understand the question, but I just trust that our young players at every position, and certainly at the quarterback position, are guys that are gonna work their tails off to get better every single day.”
However, per Oyefusi, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has decided that it’s imperative to see what they have in Sanders at the position.
“Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said, ‘I don’t think it’s fair to speculate’ on a timetable to play rookie QB Shedeur Sanders with eight games remaining. Owner Jimmy Haslam has said it’s ‘absolutely’ important to evaluate both Sanders and Dillon Gabriel on the field ahead of the 2026 NFL draft, when Cleveland holds two first-round picks.”
> Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said, “I don’t think it’s fair to speculate” on a timetable to play rookie QB Shedeur Sanders with eight games remaining.
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> Owner Jimmy Haslam has said it’s “absolutely” important to evaluate both Sanders and Dillon Gabriel on the field ahead of the…
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> — Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) [November 10, 2025](https://twitter.com/DanielOyefusi/status/1987949534128075092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
It’ll be interesting to see when Sanders gets put on the field now that Haslam has decided that he wants to see what the young quarterback has.