PHILADELPHIA -- Dillon Gabriel didn’t light up the scoreboard in his preseason start like Shedeur Sanders did, but it was a solid showing by him nonetheless except for two turnovers that weren’t all his fault.
Overcoming a hamstring injury that threatened to sideline him, Gabriel put 12 first-half points on the board to pull the Browns to within a point of the Eagles at halftime. The Browns ended up winning 22-13 to improve to 2-0 in preseason.
Gabriel’s night was over after halftime as he gave way to Tyler Huntley, but he made plenty of good plays in his five possessions — except for a pick-six for which he was only partially to blame, and a botched handoff with Pierre Strong Jr. that he’ll have to clean up for next time. The pick-six appeared to be partially a result of Diontae Johnson running his route too shallow.
If it’s one thing the Browns won’t stand for this season it’s turnovers. The players who commit then will find themselves standing next to Kevin Stefanski on the sidelines or off the team.
But Gabriel, playing with most backups except for receiver Cedric Tillman and left tackle Dawand Jones for the first two series, showed good poise, accuracy, arm strength and the ability to overcome adversity. He went 13 of 18 for 143 yards, with 0 TDs and the one interception for a 72.2 rating.
It wasn’t the two-TD, 106.5 rating that Sanders treated Browns fans to last week against the Panthers, but there were still some excellent takeaways from the outing, which began with an encouraging 13-play, 63-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard TD run by rookie Ahmani Marshall. The two-point pass failed.
“It’s just the guys coming together, and we’re continuing to make steps and find an identity of what we are,” Gabriel said on the Browns telecast. “I think it’s a process within the preseason. You’re learning and this being my first time, I’m going through it with a bunch of guys that are also going through it for the first time. So we’re learning together, we’re growing together, and we got a bunch of guys that have a clear vision of what we want to do.”
Gabriel, who’s been running as the third-string quarterback for most of camp behind Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett and ahead of Shedeur Sanders, spent a lot of time talking up his young supporting cast throughout the game. He had to hold them together through the pick-six, on which veteran receiver Diontae Johnson may have run his route too shallow, and the second-quarter fumble on the first play of a drive.
The turnovers led to all of Philly’s 13 first-half points.
“You got to talk,” Gabriel said. “Our quarterbacks have got to talk to each other and our teammates. It’s part of the position. But it’s also just who I am down …I want (to play) with people that I genuinely like and have fun doing it with. It’s just a short amount of time together, but we’re trying to grow that as we go.”
Gabriel has tried not to get caught up in all of the outside noise of camp, including the circus atmosphere surrounding Sanders, who moves the needle nationally and has grabbed headlines all preseason.
“There are entertainers and there are competitors, and I totally understand that,” Gabriel said. “And my job is to compete, and that’s what I’m focused on doing. It’s something that I’ll get used to and I just want to be the best teammate that I can be and create an environment where we can all go do our best work. That’s all we want to do.”
So what’s next for all four quarterbacks in the competition?
Joe Flacco has the inside track to start the season and will likely start the “dress rehearsal game” next Saturday at home against the Rams. Sanders, who suffered a strained oblique in the first joint practice against the Eagles, might get some playing time that game to try to build on his excellent start against the Panthers.
Sanders threw some short passes to David Njoku in pre-game warmups on Saturday, raising hopes that perhaps he can take some snaps vs. the Rams. Kenny Pickett, who’s missed team drills in the past 10 practices, may or may not make it back by next week, but would be hard-pressed to beat out Flacco with so much missed time.
The two rookies were always longshots to start the season, but both comported themselves well in their preseason starts, and both will likely have a chance to play at some point this season as the Browns try to determined what they have at quarterback before the 2026 draft, in which they have two first-round picks.
When Pickett is healthy, he might also get some starts, depending on how Flacco is doing. One thing seems certain: all four quarterbacks will make the final 53-man roster on August 26 unless something unforeseen happens.
Gabriel has taken a lot of heat in camp for not being as efficient as the Browns may have liked, but a lot was heaped on his plate as the Browns installed their overhaul offense. Now, he’ll go back to the drawing board and try to build on this outing.
Gabriel’s pick six
After an excellent first quarter, Gabriel threw a pick-six on the first play of the second quarter when rookie safety Andrew Mukuba squeezed between Johnson and Blake Whiteheart and swiped the ball, returning it 75 yards for a touchdown.
Mukuba, the Eagles’ second-round pick out of Texas, took advantage of the Browns’ two pass-catchers landing too close to each other on a levels concept near the left sideline, with Johnson possibly breaking off his route about 5 yards short.
Regardless, Gabriel opted to throw it anyway, with disastrous results. The pick-six out the Eagles ahead 7-6 with 14:44 left in the half after the Browns botched the extra point attempt on their lone touchdown of the half. Backup longsnapper Brent Matiscik delivered a low ball to Cory Bojorquez, who tried and failed to complete a pass.
The pick-six spoiled an excellent first quarter by Gabriel, who went 8-for-9 for 73 yards for a 100.5 rating, and went 4-for-4 on third down.
Gabriel opened the game with an 13-play, 63 yard drive that ended in a 4-yard TD run by rookie Ahmani Marshall. Gabriel went 4-for-4 for 29 yards on the drive with the key play being a 16-yard end around by Gage Larvadain to the Philly 5.
Gabriel displayed excellent mobility, arm strength and decision-making on the drive, overcoming a 4-yard sack by finding tight end Blake Whiteheart for 10 yards on third down on the ensuing play. Gabriel also connected with Jamari Thrash for 7 yards to convert another third down. By the end of the half, the Browns were 6-of-8 on third down.
Gabriel finished the half 13 of 18 for 143 yards with no touchdowns and one pick for a 72.2 rating. He was also charged with the fumble after the botched handoff to Pierre Strong Jr. on the first play of a second-quarter drive that was recovered by Mukuba. The Eagles converted their second takeaways into another TD, with quarterback Kyle McCord finding Ainias Smith for a 9-yard TD pass on a 9-yard slant from the slot, where he beat Browns cornerback Cam Mitchell.
On his second drive, Gabriel made some excellent plays, including an 11-yarder over the middle to Jamari Thrash, an 18-yard play-action pass on a corner route to Ced Tillman, and a 9-yard out to Kaden Davis for a first down. It was a textbook drive — until the ill-fated pick. On his third possession, he connected with Thrash for a 19-yard pass play to convert a third down, and drove to the 21, where he was sacked for a 7-yard loss. Dustin Hopkins kicked a 46-yard field goal to put the Browns up 9-7 with 9:13 left in the half.
Gabriel maintained his poise after the second turnover and came right back with a beautiful 29-yard strike over the middle to Davis, who’s pretty much wrapped up a roster spot. Gabriel also found Brendan Bates for 13 down the left seam, where he was upended by Tristan McCollum. Overcoming Thrash’s offensive pass interference, Gabriel got kicker Andre Smzyt in position for a 49-yard field goal, on which he split the uprights.
Browns rookies that didn’t play
With two excellent joint practices against the Eagles, the Browns opted to rest some of their draft picks who will start the season or play key roles: Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger, Harold Fannin Jr. and Dylan Sampson.
But the Browns played two offensive starters the first two series in left tackle Dawand Jones and receiver Cedric Tillman.
WR Isaiah Bond on his way
Former Texas receiver Isaiah Bond, who spent the 2023 season in Alabama when Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees was his offensive coordinator, flew to Cleveland on Saturday night and is expected to sign with the Browns on Sunday.
Bond, whose sexual assault charge was no-billed in Texas on Thursday, was projected as a third-round pick before the arrest on April 10. He went undrafted, but the Browns kept close tabs on him, and apparently believed he was innocent.
Bond, 21, is a speedster who runs a 4.39 in the 40 and will help the Browns’ speed-hungry receiving corps. One receiver who might be impacted by Bond’s arrival is Johnson, who caught 1 of 3 targets for 7 yards, and has had an uneven preseason. Johnson has plenty if talent, but will need a strong finish to make the team.
One source told cleveland.com that the Browns and Bond’s camp are not expecting him to be disciplined by the NFL for the sexual assault case based on the facts of the case and the fact that prosecutors in Texas’ Collins County advocated for the no-bill.
Bond is expected to be in uniform and on the field with the Browns when they resume practice back in Berea on Tuesday.
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.