Dillon Gabriel Injury News & Updates

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Gabriel remains in the NFL's concussion protocol and that he will provide an update about the team's plans at quarterback Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Gabriel suffered a concussion during Cleveland's loss to the Steelers on Sunday, paving the way for Shedeur Sanders to take over in relief to begin the third quarter. Neither rookie was particularly effective, with Gabriel completing seven of 10 pass attempts for 68 yards without a touchdown or INT, and Sanders completing four of 16 pass attempts for 47 yards and an interception. If Gabriel isn't able to make some sort of tangible step in his recovery by the time the Browns return to practice Wednesday, the team may prepare as though Sanders will line up under center versus the Raiders in Week 12.

Gabriel (concussion) won't return to Sunday's game against the Ravens.

With Gabriel out for the remainder of Sunday's contest, Shedeur Sanders will handle the Browns' QB duties versus the Ravens. Gabriel will thus look to gain medical clearance ahead of next weekend's contest against the Raiders.

Gabriel is being evaluated for a concussion during Sunday's game against the Ravens.

With Gabriel out of the contest, Shedeur Sanders is in at QB for the Browns. Prior to his exit, Gabriel completed seven of his 10 pass attempts for 68 yards and carried twice for two yards.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said immediately following Sunday's loss to the Jets that Gabriel will remain the starting quarterback, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

That Stefanski will stick with Gabriel, despite mounting evidence that the rookie is out of his depth, could indicate his confidence level in backup Shedeur Sanders. Gabriel had a few good moments in the Week 10 loss, when new play caller, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, added more designed rollouts. That resulted in No. 1 wideout Jerry Jeudy getting his hands on the ball more often and a season-high 54 yards rushing for the quarterback, but opposing defenses are not being challenged. Gabriel ranks 41st among NFL quarterbacks at minus-0.18 expected points added, and he's showing little evidence that improvement is coming.

Gabriel completed 17 of 32 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Jets. He added five rushing attempts for 54 yards.

Gabriel opened the scoring with a nine-yard touchdown pass to David Njoku and connected with Jerry Jeudy for a 22-yard touchdown in the second quarter, but the rookie quarterback completed only 11 of 23 first-half passes for 125 yards. Cleveland's offense struggled in the second half even as Gabriel's accuracy improved slightly, and he came up short of 200 passing yards for the fourth time in five starts as the Browns fell to 2-7 overall. Per Brad Stainbrook of the Browns' official site, head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed after the game that Gabriel will remain the starter for the team's Week 11 rematch versus the Ravens, against whom Gabriel threw his first NFL touchdown pass in Week 2.

Gabriel will be hearing the voice of first-year offensive coordinator Tommy Rees calling plays this week against the Jets, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski gave up play-calling duties for a second straight season, citing a need to create explosive plays and fix trouble areas. And there are many areas that need fixing. Beyond a rotating cast of starters on the offensive line, Gabriel has been limited to mostly short passes by an unexciting and unproductive group of wide receivers. The rookie quarterback told Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal that he hasn't noticed much change in the day-to-day operations since Stefanski announced the switch Monday. A new play caller should not result in a radically different plan Week 10, when the Browns face the league's 26th-ranked rush defense (135.8 ypg). Look for Rees to establish the run with Quinshon Judkins and keep Gabriel out of difficult third-down situations.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Sunday that he will stick with Gabriel at quarterback following the Week 9 bye, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Gabriel had a few good moments during Cleveland's 32-13 loss to the Patriots, including a pair of touchdown strikes, his first since Week 5. Unfortunately for the Browns, the rookie threw two interceptions and was whistled for a safety in the fourth quarter when he intentionally grounded a pass while in his own end zone. If Stefanski eventually makes a change, Gabriel would likely be replaced by Shedeur Sanders, who was inactive Week 8 due to a back injury,

Gabriel completed 21 of 35 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions in Sunday's 32-13 loss to the Patriots. He added 13 yards on his only carry.

The rookie QB barely involved his wide receivers in the game plan, as just three of his 21 completions went to WRs, and his two TDs went to tight ends Harold Fannin and David Njoku. Gabriel also threw the first two INTs of his NFL career however, and he's failed to reach 200 passing yards in three of his four starts since replacing Joe Flacco under center for the Browns. Gabriel will get a chance to regroup on the team's Week 9 bye before taking on the struggling Jets in Week 10.

Gabriel completed 13 of 18 passes for 116 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and rushed four times for 12 yards in the Browns' 31-6 win over the Dolphins on Sunday.

The rookie wasn't asked to do much, and the fact the Browns were able to jump out to a 17-6 halftime lead automatically gave head coach Kevin Stefanski in how he deployed his young signal-caller. Quinshon Judkins, who scored three rushing touchdowns, and the Browns defense, which picked off Tua Tagovailoa three times and also recorded a pair of sacks, did most of the heavy lifting, leading to Gabriel's lowest passing yardage total yet in three games as a starter. The 2025 third-round pick will face off with Drake Maye and the Patriots on the road in Week 8 next Sunday afternoon.

Gabriel completed 29 of 52 passes for 221 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 23-9 loss to the Steelers.

Gabriel was constantly under pressure, taking six sacks while averaging only 4.25 yards per attempt. Positively, he did continue to show a connection with fellow rookie tight end Harold Fannin, as the duo connected for a 25-yard gain -- the longest of the day for both Gabriel and the team. Gabriel should have the chance to put together a better performance in Week 7 as the Browns host the Dolphins.

Gabriel completed 19 of 33 passes for 190 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 21-17 loss to the Vikings.

Gabriel drew his first NFL start in a tough situation, traveling overseas to London while facing one of the more intricate defenses in the league. He handled himself well, as he didn't turn the ball over and was sacked only twice. While Gabriel primarily worked in the short areas of the field, he did manage a pair of completions of more than 20 yards and led two lengthy touchdown drives. There will still be plenty of chatter about the quarterback situation in Cleveland, but Gabriel made a positive first impression as the team's starter.

Gabriel will start Sunday's game against the Vikings.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Gabriel will be backed up by 40-year-old Joe Flacco, who started the 1-3 Browns' first three games this season, with Shedeur Sanders remaining the third-stringer. The 2025 third-rounder thus represents a lineup option for fantasy managers in QB-friendly formats, as well as those in need of a bye week pivot in Week 5.

Gabriel is expected to replace Joe Flacco as the Browns' starting quarterback beginning with Sunday's game against the Vikings in London, Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com reports.

After limping to a 1-3 start to the season while failing to score more than 17 points in any game under Flacco's direction, the Browns look set to turn the offense over to Gabriel. The FBS career leader with 155 touchdown passes over a six-year collegiate career that included stops at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon, Gabriel beat out fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders for the top backup role coming out of training camp. Gabriel -- who has completed three of four pass attempts for 19 yards and a touchdown between appearances at the tail end of blowout losses in Weeks 2 and 4 -- brings far more mobility to the table than Flacco, though he boasts only average arm strength and may not be asked to direct a high-volume passing attack. The Browns have yet to officially confirm any change at quarterback for Week 5, but expect head coach Kevin Stefanski to address the matter when he speaks to the media Wednesday.

Gabriel went 0-for-1 and played three snaps in Sunday's 34-10 loss to the Lions in Week 4.

Gabriel replaced starter Joe Flacco for the inconsequential final drive of the day. It was his second appearance in four games, both on the final drives. Cleveland's offense once again sputtered, scored its fewest points and is averaging just 14 points per game. While it can't all be blamed on Flacco -- the Browns started their fourth different offensive line combination in four games and the receivers' room is thin and plagued by drops -- the writing is on the wall. There will eventually be a quarterback change, which would likely feature Gabriel as the starter and Shedeur Sanders as the top backup.

Gabriel completed three of three passes for 19 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 41-17 loss to Baltimore in Week 2.

The Browns' offense stumbled for a second consecutive week, and starting quarterback Joe Flacco was eventually removed late in the fourth quarter with the Ravens up by 31 points. Gabriel entered for the Browns' final possession, which ended with the rookie quarterback's eight-yard touchdown pass to fellow rookie Dylan Sampson. Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski told Zac Jackson of The Athletic that he's not considering a quarterback change. And that could be the case in September, but the Browns' 0-2 start could snowball and playing a 40-year-old quarterback may not be the best path forward for the franchise.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that Gabriel will begin the regular season as the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Joe Flacco, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Gabriel will kick off the year as Flacco's top backup, while fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders operates as the emergency No. 3 option. A hamstring injury forced Gabriel to sit out the Browns' preseason opener, but he returned for the team's final two exhibition matchups and looked solid, completing a combined 25 of 37 passes for 272 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Gabriel completed 12 of 19 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 19-17 preseason win over the Rams.

Entering the game in the second quarter after No. 1 quarterback Joe Flacco handled the Browns' first three drives, Gabriel quickly led the team to 10 points before halftime, highlighted by a three-yard TD toss to Gage Larvadian with 17 seconds left on the clock. The absence of Kenny Pickett (hamstring) during training camp and the preseason has provided Gabriel with valuable reps, and the 2025 third-round pick has rarely looked out of place. Fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders remains in the mix for a spot behind Flacco as well, but Gabriel has made a solid case to begin the season in the No. 3 role, if not No. 2.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefansk said Thursday that Gabriel is set to play in Saturday's preseason finale against the Rams, entering the game second, after starter Joe Flacco and before Shedeur Sanders, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Gabriel and Sanders are competing for the No. 2 quarterback gig behind Flacco, who has already been named the Week 1 starter and is in line to handle 25-30 snaps with the first-team offense Saturday. Meanwhile, Kenny Pickett (hamstring) will miss a third consecutive preseason game due to injury, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com. With roster cut-downs on deck next week, Saturday's game represents a crucial opportunity for both Gabriel and Sanders to put good reps on tape as they vie with Pickett for depth chart standing behind Flacco.

With Joe Flacco having been named the Browns' starting QB on Monday, per Kelsey Russo of the team's official site, Gabriel will now turn his focus to competing for backup slotting behind the veteran signal-caller.

Unlike Kenny Pickett (hamstring) and Shedeur Sanders (oblique), Gabriel played in Saturday's 22-13 preseason win over the Eagles. With Flacco locked in as Cleveland's QB1 to begin the regular season, it remains to be seen who will be his top backup Sept. 7 against the Bengals, but look for things to get competitive on that front once both Pickett and Sanders resume practicing fully.

Gabriel completed 13 of 18 passes for 143 yards and an interception in Saturday's 22-13 preseason win over the Eagles. He also gained one yard and lost a fumble on two carries.

The 2025 third-round pick looked good at times while playing the entire first half for the Browns, leading the team to three scores on five possessions, but he also made a poor decision on a pick-six that snuffed out a drive deep in Philly territory in the first quarter and botched a handoff to Pierre Strong in the second. Gabriel will continue to get valuable reps while Kenny Pickett (hamstring) and Shedeur Sanders (oblique) are sidelined, but based on Saturday's performance, he's still a long way from unseating Joe Flacco for the top spot on the quarterback depth chart.

The Browns expect Gabriel (hamstring) to start Saturday's preseason matchup against the Eagles, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Gabriel's lingering hamstring injury appears to be holding up well during pre-game warmups, paving the way for him to make his preseason debut on the road against Philadelphia. With anticipated Week 1 starter Joe Flacco resting Saturday, Shedeur Sanders (oblique) ruled out and Kenny Pickett (hamstring) having been limited to 7-on-7 drills at practice this week, Gabriel and Tyler Huntley could be Cleveland's only available quarterbacks versus Saturday, potentially positioning the rookie third-round pick for a substantial workload in his exhibition debut.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Thursday that Gabriel will start Saturday's preseason game against the Eagles as long as his lingering hamstring injury doesn't act up in pre-game workouts or after practice, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports.

Gabriel has been participating in 11-on-11 drills since Monday, so his hamstring injury doesn't appear to be hampering him much. In all likelihood, the Browns are simply taking extra precautions toward the rookie third-rounder's recovery, with Shedeur Sanders (oblique) and Kenny Pickett (hamstring) already expected to miss Saturday's game due to injury, and veteran Joe Flacco in line to rest. If Gabriel is able to start, he'll be relieved by Tyler Huntley. If the rookie can't go, however, Cleveland could sign an additional signal-caller to back up Huntley.

Gabriel is facing an opportunity to potentially start Saturday's preseason game against the Eagles with Shedeur Sanders (oblique) and Kenny Pickett (hamstring) both nursing injuries, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski hasn't yet named a starter for Saturday's exhibition matchup, but with Sanders and Pickett both banged up and Joe Flacco expected to rest, Gabriel seems a likely candidate to not only start, but potentially handle a substantial amount of expanded reps. Deshaun Watson (Achilles) remains on the active/PUP list, meaning the only other healthy quarterback on the roster able to challenge Gabriel for playing time Saturday is currently Tyler Huntley. Gabriel missed Cleveland's preseason opener due to a hamstring injury of his own, so the team may also have extra motivation to allot the 2025 third-rounder increased exhibition reps for evaluation purposes.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Gabriel (hamstring) will participate in 11-on-11 drills, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Gabriel had been limited in practice for roughly a week due to a hamstring injury, which also forced him to sit out Friday's preseason opener against the Panthers, but he now appears back to full health. With Gabriel, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett (hamstring) and Deshaun Watson (Achilles) all sidelined versus Carolina, fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders got a chance to log substantial exhibition action and impressed with two touchdown passes. Gabriel may have to make up lost ground in Saturday's road preseason game against the Eagles.

Gabriel (hamstring) won't participate in 11-on-11 drills Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Gabriel is one of three Browns quarterbacks who won't play in Friday's preseason opener in Carolina, with Shedeur Sandersand Tyler Huntley set to see action in the contest. The 2025 third-round pick sustained a hamstring injury in practice last Saturday and won't push it for the remainder of the week. He is still competing for his spot on the roster in what is a very crowded quarterback room.

Gabriel (hamstring) will be limited in Monday's practice, per coach Kevin Stefanski, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Stefanski added that Gabriel sustained and reported the hamstring injury in practice Saturday. Shedeur Sanders (arm) is returning to full participation Monday alongside Joe Flacco, while Pickett's limited participation in team drills will be more than Kenny Pickett (hamstring) puts forth. It remains to be seen what combination of the four quarterback Cleveland deploys in its preseason opener Thursday against the Panthers.

Though Joe Flacco handled the bulk of the first-team QB reps during team drills Friday, Gabriel mixed in with the first unit as well, Dan Labbe of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

That's an arrangement that had had been in play while Kenny Pickett dealt with a hamstring issue. However, with Pickett back on the field Friday -- albeit in a limited fashion -- before long, we'd expect a return to Flacco and Pickett sharing most of the first-team work in practice, with Gabriel mixing in to a lesser degree, while Shedeur Sanders gets reps with the second or third team offense.

Gabriel has gotten reps with the first-team offense and faced the first-team defense during mandatory minicamp, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

As veterans, both Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett have been first in line for reps during minicamp. However, Flacco has observed large portions of the session due to his veteran status, allowing Gabriel to get valuable reps. Jackson noted that Gabriel has struggled early on in the practices but has gotten better as the days have progressed.

The Browns selected Gabriel in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 94th overall.

Cleveland was expected to leave this draft with at least one quarterback, but Gabriel wasn't the prospect most anticipated. Gabriel had a lengthy college career with three productive stops at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon to make him the NCAA's all-time leader in total touchdowns (189). An undersized southpaw (5-foot-11, 205), Gabriel possesses legitimate NFL arm strength and has a great feel in the pocket. Gabriel has 63 starts to his credit and learned several different offenses in college, which bodes well for the mental transition to the league. It's unlikely that Gabriel develops into a starter in the NFL, but it was worth it for the Browns to take a shot on him at this stage.