The Cleveland Browns are not taking any unnecessary risks with Dillon Gabriel, who will sit out the team’s first preseason game.
Gabriel is embroiled in the team’s now five-man quarterback back competition. The group also includes Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, newly-signed veteran Tyler Huntley and fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders.
The Browns confirmed Gabriel, Flacco and Pickett will not play in the team’s preseason opener on Friday against the Carolina Panthers. The Browns don’t feel the 40-year-old Flacco needs the preseason reps at this point, while both Pickett and Gabriel are dealing with hamstring injuries.
Flacco is currently the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart but his workload is expected to ramp up closer to the season.
“Joe’s seen it all and he relies on his experience, but I think it’d be unfair to Joe to give him nothing,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said on Wednesday. “Because number one, he’s got to stay sharp. Technically, he needs to work on all those fundamentals and types of things. But also, he wants to show what he can do. And I think his teammates want to see it as well.”
Browns Don’t Want to ‘Expose’ Dillon Gabriel
Flacco’s situation is one thing but Gabriel is in a different boat. The third-round rookie’s play in training camp has drawn negative reviews. He could benefit from a strong preseason showing but won’t get that chance this week.
“Just being very careful with him. Don’t want to expose him to any unnecessary strain, if you will,” Stefanski said.
Meanwhile, Sanders will draw the start and have a prime opportunity to build some momentum. Gabriel has seen some scattered time with the first-team offense, while Sanders has yet to get a chance.
Stefanski said that the team will rest a solid chunk of their starters against the Panthers, but the expectations don’t change for Sanders.
“My expectations for Shedeur are no different than the rest of the guys. Honestly, we expect them to go operate,” Stefanski said. “It’s when you get these preseason games, you try to keep it very simple so guys can play fast. All concepts that our players know can kind of not think too much and just play ball.”
Browns QB Dillon Gabriel Focused on Stacking Reps
The Browns selected Gabriel in the third round, higher than most saw him going. Cleveland then selected Sanders in the fifth round, ending his draft slide. It’s put an increased spotlight on the QB competition in Cleveland, but Gabriel is focused on what he can control.
“I go back to just every single day is individual of its own, and I think you want to collectively build days,” he said. “But within that you want to be proud of certain reps, but you want to be proud of how there’s opportunity to grow and correcting maybe mistakes once to the next time and continue to answer the bell that way.
“So for me it’s doing that and stacking it up. But the more reps, the more tries you get at it, the more confidence you build, and the ability to showcase what you can do slowly by just operating within the offense.”
Stefanski said the hope is for Gabriel and Pickett to be available against the Philadelphia Eagles next week.
“We’ll see how it progresses. I think with all these injuries, you gotta take it as one day at a time,” he said.
