The Cleveland Browns offense needs a spark but it won’t come. from quarterback Shedeur Sanders — at least yet.
The Browns will continue rolling with Dillon Gabriel despite his struggles and the team’s 2-7 record. Gabriel passed for just 167 yards in Cleveland’s Week 10 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday. While the offense improved in some areas with Tommy Rees calling the plays, the unit remained inconsistent.
After the game, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was quick to quiet any noise about Gabriel being replaced.
“We’re gonna stick with Dillon,” Stefanski said. “Obviously this is a young player, you’re always trying to get one game better and those types of things. We have to play better as an offense, we have to coach better, all of the above.”
On Monday, Stefanski was asked about a potential timeline for when Sanders could be in the mix. He did not entertain the question.
“I don’t think it’s fair to speculate. We are committed to getting better as an offense. Dillon is committed to improving in any which way he can,” Stefanski said. “All of our players, young players, are developing and working behind the scenes to make sure they are better on a daily basis.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Quiet Since Being Named Backup
Sanders has not said much since he was officially named the backup a few weeks ago. But when he has spoken, Sanders has made it clear that he’ll be ready when his number is called.
“We’re going to make sure we do everything we can to make sure Dillon is ready for the game,” Sanders said in October. “So each and every day, even when Joe (Flacco) was the starter, everything. Prepare the right way and be ready to know that you could get out there any point in time. So, I’m overly confident within myself. I know when I first got here, I’m ready to play, but it’s up to the coaches and whatever decision they make, then I’m fine with.”
Gabriel has just five starts under his belt. If Sanders entered as the starter this week, it’d give him eight games, assuming he started the rest of the season. If the Browns do make a change, they are likely waiting until the workload is relatively even to get a fair evaluation.
Meanwhile, Browns veterans like Jerry Jeudy — who had a season-high six catches for 78 yards and a score against the Jets — are supporting Gabriel.
“Dillon’s constantly growing each game,” Jeudy said. “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.”
Browns QB Dillon Gabriel Focused on Execution
Gabriel isn’t blind to his own struggles — or the offense’s. He knows if things don’t start clicking soon, a change under center could be inevitable.
“When things aren’t going well, there’s always going to be change,” Gabriel said. “That’s part of it because if you keep doing the same thing and don’t change anything, that’s 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 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 you’ve got to have it and execute. And we didn’t.”
Gabriel will get another shot this week in front of a home crowd as the Browns take on the Baltimore Ravens.
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