The Cleveland Browns are making a major change under center, benching veteran Joe Flacco in favor of rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel ahead of Sunday’s international matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in London. Flacco, who opened the season as the starter, has struggled with turnovers—throwing six interceptions in his first four games, including two costly picks during a 34–10 loss to the Detroit Lions last week. With the offense sputtering and the team in need of a spark, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that the move was made “for the good of the football team.”
Gabriel, a third-round draft pick out of Oklahoma who also played at UCF and Oregon, brings an extensive collegiate résumé and a reputation for poise and accuracy. He has been gradually integrated into the offense and received increased first-team reps in practice, signaling the staff’s growing confidence in him. While Flacco will slide into the backup role and Shedeur Sanders remains the third-string option, the Browns are betting on Gabriel’s upside to energize their offense and provide stability at quarterback as they head into a crucial stretch of the season.
