Kevin Stefanski is officially making a big decision for the Cleveland Browns that could end up going either way for the team
The Browns are moving on from their starting quarterback after four games.
Before the season started when the Cleveland Browns named Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback with two rookies behind him, it felt like it was just a temporary decision. Flacco has started four games for the Browns and they have one of the worst offenses in the NFL. The veteran quarterback unfortunately hasn’t been able to find his 2023 form in Cleveland and he’s now been benched.
The Cleveland Browns have a new starting QB heading into Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings
Kevin Stefanski has decided to make a quarterback change ahead of facing the team that he came up with prior to becoming the head coach in Cleveland. The Browns are set to start rookie QB Dillon Gabriel against the Vikings on Sunday for his first career start. Cleveland plays Minnesota in London on Sunday, so Gabriel’s first start will be a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff across seas.
Cleveland had to move on from the 40-year-old quarterback Flacco due to his play and his immobility. Flacco is averaging 203 passing yards per game through four starts and is completing just 58 percent of his passes. The two touchdown passes to six interceptions is alarming, even if a couple of the picks are to blame on wideouts. Flacco hasn’t been the whole problem with the offense in any way but he’s been a problem.
Gabriel impressed with the Browns’ backups in the preseason as a third-round pick from back in April. Coming out of Oregon, Gabriel is a quick professor and is going to get the ball out as a left-handed quarterback who can sling it. Gabriel isn’t a dual-threat quarterback by definition but he brings the ability to move if needed and the Browns could use that with the state of the offensive line.
Going up against Brian Flores’ defense with the Vikings is a tough first draw for the rookie quarterback. Minnesota is allowing the third fewest passing yards a game at 151.8 and the Browns will have to work for everything they get. The Browns are down No. 2 wideout Cedric Tillman, so it’s going to be next man up on Sunday out there for Gabriel’s first start.