The Pittsburgh Steelers shut down Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel in Week 6. But fellow rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will start instead of Gabriel when the Steelers and Browns renew their rivalry during Week 17.
The Steelers found out Sunday morning that Gabriel won’t even dress.
Cleveland announced about 24 hours before kickoff Bailey Zappe will be Sanders’ backup against the Steelers on Sunday. The Browns elevated Zappe, along with tight end Sal Cannella, from the practice squad for Week 17.
Gabriel is inactive for the contest. The rookie dealt with a shoulder injury entering Week 17 and was limited in practice Friday. Cleveland listed Gabriel as questionable on the final injury report.
Zappe hasn’t appeared in an NFL regular season game this season. He is 4-5 with 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions while averaging 6.6 yards per attempt in 15 career games.
The Steelers also released their inactive list an hour and a half before kickoff Sunday. The team included wide receiver Calvin Austin III, running back Kaleb Johnson, cornerbacks Brandin Echols and James Pierre, guard Isaac Seumalo, edge rusher T.J. Watt and quarterback Will Howard on that inactive list.
Once again, Howard will serve as the team’s emergency No. 3 quarterback.
Browns’ Dillon Gabriel Inactive vs. Steelers
With Gabriel inactive for Week 17, unless the rookie returns to play in the season finale, he will complete his rookie season with a 1-5 record.
In 10 games, Gabriel has averaged 5.1 yards per pass with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s avoided major mistakes, but he’s been sacked 19 times and posted just a 59.5% completion percentage.
Sanders has also struggled in the same areas. Entering Sunday, Sanders has recorded a 55.1% completion percentage with 15 sacks in six games.
The fifth-round rookie has also thrown six touchdowns versus eight interceptions.
In Week 6, the Steelers dropped several interceptions and didn’t have a takeaway while facing Gabriel. But they did sack the rookie six times.
The Steelers are tied for 11th in the NFL with 12 interceptions. The last time Mike Tomlin’s club had multiple picks in a game was Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Steelers Final Week 17 Injury Report
Unlike the Browns, the Steelers didn’t have any last-minute questions with their Week 17 injury report. Guard Isaac Seumalo and defensive back Jalen Ramsey were both questionable after the team’s final practice. But on Saturday, the Steelers ruled out Seumalo and dropped Ramsey’s injury designation.
Seumalo will miss a second consecutive game with a triceps injury.
Pierre and Echols will also be out. Also on defense, Watt is sidelined again. The All-Pro edge rusher hasn’t played since needing surgery on a partially collapsed lung on December 11.
On offense, the Steelers will be missing Austin and DK Metcalf. Austin won’t play because of a hamstring injury. Metcalf will begin serving a 2-game suspension Sunday.
The Steelers need to beat the Browns during Week 17 to clinch the AFC North. Pittsburgh can still win the division with a loss Sunday. But if the Browns win, the Steelers will face a win-or-go-home contest against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18.
Tomlin owns a 28-9-1 regular season record against Cleveland. But the Browns are 5-1 versus the Steelers in Cleveland since the start of the 2019 campaign.
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