Cleveland Browns Shake Things Up with Rookie QB Dillon Gabriel in London

This week, the Cleveland Browns are set to turn to rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel as they face the Minnesota Vikings in London. It’s a notable shift, especially for Joe Flacco, the veteran quarterback who has been around for quite some time.

Flacco, perhaps a bit blindsided by this change, commented on the situation, saying, “Look, I think whenever you’re in this league, everyone is always appreciated. The job of a quarterback is to help your team win, and while I didn’t foresee this, me and Kevin can have a good conversation about it.” It seems there’s some acknowledgment of his role, but it’s got to be a tough pill to swallow.

As Gabriel takes the lead, Flacco finds himself stepping back to the QB2 position, ready to back him up. Interestingly, Shedeur Sanders remains third on the depth chart, though there’s been a lot of buzz around both rookies since the NFL Draft, where Sanders was selected unexpectedly in the fifth round. After some advanced practices, Flacco initially held the starting role, but now that’s shifted.

Throughout this season, Flacco’s performance has been, well, less than stellar—throwing two touchdowns and six interceptions, with a completion rate of only 58.1%. The Browns’ offensive numbers reflect that too; they’re averaging a mere 14 points per game.

Flacco has expressed his disappointment about not being the starting quarterback, which I imagine is a tough spot for someone with his experience. But he’s been vocal about his willingness to support Gabriel. “I think helping him is about keeping a positive mindset and being there to see what he needs,” Flacco mentioned. “He’s eager and ready to seize this chance.”

This isn’t Flacco’s first rodeo—he previously led the same team to success in the 2023 playoffs and even snagged the Comeback Player of the Year award. Despite his impressive résumé, there’s this sense that starting the season in a backup role wasn’t quite what he had envisioned.

“Every situation is unique,” Flacco said, acknowledging the emotional weight of the adjustments. As he watches from the sidelines, there’s bound to be a blend of excitement and perhaps some angst about what’s unfolding with Gabriel against the Vikings.