Kevin Stefanski: Browns ‘Sticking With’ Dillon Gabriel Despite Loss To Bottom-Feeding Jets

The Browns are 1-4 with rookie QB Dillon Gabriel, their only win against the Dolphins, but Kevin Stefanski isn’t caving. After another uninspiring performance from his third-round pick, he once again maintained Gabriel is the starter—at least for now. Granted, he had arguably one of his better games against the Jets—but he still lost to the Jets.

“We’re going to stick with Dillon”, Stefanski said of the Browns’ decision to keep Gabriel as their starter, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “Obviously, young players that you’re always trying to get one game better,” Stefanski said. “We have to play better as an offense. We have to coach better. All of the above”.

In his fifth start of the season, Gabriel went 17-for-32 passing for 167 yards. He threw two touchdown passes, to David Njoku and Jerry Jeudy, with no interceptions. While they lost 27-20, it’s worth noting the Browns allowed two special teams return touchdowns. In the same quarter. Yeah. The Browns is the Browns.

To his credit, Gabriel gave the Browns an early lead, and then brought the game back to a tie twice after the disastrous first quarter for their special teams. But the Jets pulled away with a 10-point fourth quarter, winning by seven.

The only quarterback the Browns have on the 53-man roster other than Dillon Gabriel is…well, you know who. Shedeur Sanders, their rookie fifth-round pick, who is by far the most discussed Browns player other than Myles Garrett. We’ve talked about him enough that I really don’t need to belabor the background here.

Other than Gabriel and Sanders, though, the Browns do have Bailey Zappe on the practice squad. They elevated him a week prior to serve as the backup because Sanders was unable to play due to a back injury. Sanders returned this week, however, to dress as Gabriel’s backup.

On the season, Dillion Gabriel is 102-for-174 passing for 769 yards with 7 touchdowns to 2 interceptions. Generally not a big runner, he did rush for 54 yards against the Jets with a long of 19. The Browns have gotten a spark out of their run game thanks to another rookie, RB Quinshon Judkins. After storming out of the gates, however, minus the shellacking they gave the Dolphins, he, too, has cooled in recent weeks.

Of course, if the Browns really want to go full diabolical, they can begin to prepare Deshaun Watson for his return. After all, they paid enough to get him, and he should be nearing readiness to practice. Given Stefanski’s answers in recent weeks, it seems his sticking with Gabriel has as much to do with his believe in Shedeur Sanders as it does the actual starter.