Dillon Gabriel to Remains Browns' QB1, Shedeur Sanders Missed Game with Injury

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that rookie Dillon Gabriel will remain the team's starting quarterback following a 32-13 loss at the hands of the New England Patriots on Sunday.

"We'll look at everything we do, including how we're putting these guys in position to succeed," Stefanski told reporters after the defeat. "Are we doing enough? When I say looking at every position, are we doing enough with the quarterback position? Do we need to do a better job? And I think I know the answer is yes."

Gabriel finished 21-of-35 for 156 yards and two touchdowns compared to two interceptions against New England.

Fellow rookie passer Shedeur Sanders was inactive during Sunday's contest due to a back injury.

Gabriel struggled to consistently move the ball against a Patriots secondary that entered the matchup allowing 235.7 yards per game through the air, the ninth-worst mark in the NFL.

The 2025 third-round pick averaged a mere 4.5 yards per attempt, while Cleveland converted just two of 11 chances on third down.

Sunday marked Gabriel's fourth start of his career, completing 59.2 percent of his throws for 527 yards and two touchdowns across his prior three appearances. The Browns owned a 1-2 record over that span, averaging 19.0 points per game.

As for Sanders, he's still waiting for his first NFL regular-season action after Cleveland traded up to select him in the fifth round of the 2025 draft.

He participated in practice throughout the week leading up to the game against New England, but was added to the injury report with a questionable designation on Saturday before he was later ruled out.

Sanders previously appeared in two preseason contests for the Browns, completing 58.6 percent of his passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns without getting picked off.

With Cleveland currently sitting at 2-6, Stefanski may consider a change under center if Gabriel can't bounce back after the team's upcoming bye week.