Dillon Gabriel silences doubters in Browns preseason debut

AFC North - English Cleveland Browns - English Dillon Gabriel - English Joe Flacco - English Jorge Guevara - Raíz Kenny Pickett - English Kevin Stefanski - English NFL - English NFL Preseason - English Philadelphia Eagles - English Shedeur Sanders - English Sports Tyler Huntley - English

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Cleveland’s quarterback room got even more interesting this weekend. A week after Shedeur Sanders turned heads in the preseason opener, Dillon Gabriel made his own case in the Browns’ second exhibition game – and he did it coming off a hamstring injury that had limited him in camp.

Starting against the Philadelphia Eagles, Gabriel didn’t play like someone easing his way back from an injury. Instead, he looked poised, efficient, and surprisingly comfortable in the pocket. He finished his night 13-of-18 for 143 yards, flashing accuracy on short and intermediate throws while showing the kind of composure that tends to earn coaches’ trust.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo summed it up best on X: “Solid showing for the Browns rookie, especially with limited work coming off a hamstring injury. Both Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders off to good starts.”

A rocky start, a quick recovery

Of course, the game didn’t begin perfectly. On the first play of the second quarter, Gabriel forced a throw into a crowded zone that was returned for a touchdown. Social media ran with it, pointing to the rookie mistake as a sign of inexperience. But what mattered more was how he responded.

Rather than getting rattled, Gabriel bounced back with nine completions on his next 11 attempts. He reset, trusted his progressions, and kept the chains moving. That resilience is what had analysts nodding after the game – not the interception.

The Browns’ QB picture just got cloudier

With Sanders sidelined by an oblique issue, Gabriel played the entire first half before giving way to Tyler “Snoop” Huntley. Meanwhile, Kenny Pickett remains out with a hamstring injury of his own, leaving the door wide open for both rookies to make their case.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski hasn’t budged on the depth chart, still treating 40-year-old Joe Flacco as QB1, but Pickett’s absence has created a sense of urgency. As ESPN’s Jake Trotter has noted, “availability has become as important as performance” in process.

The Browns have one preseason game left – Aug. 23 against the Los Angeles Rams. For Gabriel, it’s another chance to prove he’s more than just a developmental project. If he strings together another efficient performance, it’s not impossible that he leapfrogsPickett as Flacco’s primary backup.

And given Cleveland’s recent history at quarterback – four different starters in each of the last two seasons – the odds are strong that multiple passers will get their shot in 2025. If Saturday night was any indication, Gabriel has the tools to make the most of that opportunity.

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