PHILADELPHIA -- Browns third-round pick Dillon Gabriel will start today vs. the Eagles in the second preseason game, putting him on a level playing field with fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders in terms of getting a preseason start.
Gabriel will play with mostly backups while most of the Browns starters will rest for the second preseason game. Sanders, who strained his left oblique muscle (side of the abdomen) early on in Wednesday’s joint practice, will be in uniform today, but won’t play.
The Browns will be careful with Sanders considering that the oblique helps govern the throwing motion, but they’re hopeful he’ll play next Saturday in the “dress rehearsal” game against the Rams at Huntington Bank Field, the third and final preseason game.
Sanders brought plenty of excitement to Browns Town last week when he lit it up vs. the Panthers, throwing for 138 yards and two TDs passes to Kaden Davis. He put three TDs on the board in his nine drives, playing 45 snaps. Browns GM Andrew Berry told him during the game that he was proud of him and that performance was something to build on.
Gabriel’s start today was in question because of the hamstring injury he suffered Aug. 2 in practice.
He returned to 11-on-11s on Monday, and got plenty of them during the two days of joint practices here against the Eagles.
BROWNS NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY
#0 CB Greg Newsome II
#2 WR DeAndre Carter
#3 WR Jerry Jeudy
#4 QB Deshaun Watson
#8 QB Kenny Pickett
#9 S Grant Delpit
#13 QB Shedeur Sanders
#15 QB Joe Flacco
#18 WR David Bell
#21 CB Denzel Ward
#22 RB Dylan Sampson
#27 RB LaMareon James
#29 S Rayshawn Jenkins
#34 RB Jerome Ford
#35 CB Chigozie Anusiem
#43 LB Mohamoud Diabate
#49 LB Carson Schwesinger
#51 DT Mike Hall Jr.
#52 DE K.J. Henry
#55 C Ethan Pocic
#75 G Joel Bitonio
#77 G Wyatt Teller
#78 T Jack Conklin
#85 TE David Njoku
#88 TE Harold Fannin Jr.
#94 DT Mason Graham
#95 DE Myles Garrett
#96 DT Maliek Collins
FLIPCARD CHANGES
None
Football Insider newsletter free trial: Take a minute and sign up for a free trial of our Football Insider newsletter, featuring exclusive content from cleveland.com's Browns reporters.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.