The Cleveland Browns will continue with Dillon Gabriel as their starting quarterback despite their offensive struggles.
Cleveland suffered a 27-20 road loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, as the Browns fell to 2-7 on the season. Despite another loss, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Gabriel will remain the starting quarterback.
Following the Browns’ decision, star offensive guard Joel Bitonio made his feelings clear on the move.
“Weâve just got to keep giving him a chance to grow,” Bitonio said. “Itâs the NFL. It takes a long time to develop an NFL quarterback. You see some of these quarterbacks in the NFL, some of the all-time greats, I’m not comparing anybody, but if you look at their interceptions, their sacks, things like that, it takes a long time to see enough defenses and plays in this league.
“I’m going to continue to fight for whoever is back there. The whole offensive team has to be better for him, to make sure he has his opportunities.”
Although the Browns have struggled on offense, Bitonio isn’t blaming Gabriel. Instead, he believes he and the entire offense need to be better to support him.
Gabriel finished the game going 17-for-32 for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also rushed 5 times for 54 yards.
Bitonio is a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time First Team All-Pro.
Browns Sticking With Gabriel at QB
After Cleveland lost again, Stefanski was quick to confirm that Gabriel will remain at quarterback.
Stefanski has been confident in Gabriel, and that isn’t wavering, despite calls for Shedeur Sanders to start.
“Yeah, we’re going to stick with Dillon,” Stefanski said postgame on Sunday. “Obviously, this is a young player that you’re always trying to get one game better and those type of things, but we have to play better as an offense, we have to coach better, all the above.”
Although Stefanski said the Browns will remain with Gabriel at quarterback, he was frustrated with his game.
“Yeah, when things aren’t going well, there’s always going to be change,” Gabriel said. “That’s part of it because keep doing the same thing and don’t change anything, thatâs insanity. But just I feel like at times there’s things that went well and we sustained and executed and then in certain moments we didn’t execute and that starts with me.
“But yeah, it’s always frustrating when it’s not going the way you want it to and you put in the work and time, but in crucial moments youâve got to have it and execute. And we didnât.”
Jerry Jeudy is Confident in Gabriel
Although Gabriel believes he has to be better, star receiver Jerry Jeudy remains confident in the rookie quarterback.
Jeudy finished the game with 6 receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. The receiver feels like Gabriel is getting better every week and continues to have full confidence in him.
“I think Dillon’s constantly growing each game,” Jeudy said. “Each game he has, I feel like he’s just getting better and better and all a quarterback needs is opportunities and consistency, so him being out there and just getting more reps is going to give him more confidence and I see Dillon consistently growing each week.”
Cleveland will host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
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