Browns Host Patriots on Aug. 27 as Gabriel, Green Get Final Preseason QB Reps

Q: After a flawless three-touchdown performance, did Dillon Gabriel just steal a crucial backup quarterback job for the Cleveland Browns?

Not outright, but Dillon Gabriel made the Browns’ backup quarterback decision much harder and likely strengthened his case to stay on the 53-man roster. Gabriel was excellent in Cleveland’s 37-13 preseason-ending win over New England, finishing 12 of 15 for 186 yards and three touchdowns with a 157.9 passer rating. He led points on each of his first five drives and looked decisive, accurate and in command. For a quarterback who had been squeezed for reps behind Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, it was the strongest possible late argument. That said, one preseason half probably did not “steal” the No. 2 job by itself. The Browns had already named Watson the starter, and multiple reports still indicated Sanders was ahead of Gabriel entering final cuts. Cleveland’s own handling of the finale also suggests this was more about evaluating depth than rewriting the top of the chart. What Gabriel likely did was complicate any plan to cut or waive him. The Browns have been debating whether to keep four quarterbacks, with Taylen Green viewed as a developmental prospect and Gabriel as the more polished, ready-now option. His performance reinforced the idea that he may be the safer functional backup if the Browns want someone who can operate the offense on short notice. So the answer is that Gabriel probably did not definitively take Sanders’ backup job in one night, but he may have forced Cleveland to keep him and reopened the debate over who should be the true next man up.

3 articles · Updated · clevelandbrowns.com · Aug 25

Thursday’s 8 p.m. ET preseason finale at Huntington Bank Field will feature Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green at quarterback for Cleveland, with Deshaun Watson and backup Shedeur Sanders sitting out.
Those snaps come as the Browns make final evaluations before setting their 53-man roster, with head coach Todd Monken saying jobs remain open at the back end of the squad.
New England arrives after leaning on its passing game in the first two preseason outings, posting 192 and 248 net passing yards as Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton pushed the ball downfield.
Amazon Prime and WEWS News 5 will carry the game, while Browns.com, the Browns app and local radio outlets will provide in-market streaming and live coverage.