Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson Gabriel‘s promising debut turned sour on Sunday after he suffered a concussion during the game against the Baltimore Ravens. It seemed like Gabriel was going to run the whole first half. He finished 7-of-10 passing for 68 yards with three carries for 16 yards. His performance was cut short when he hit his helmet on the ground while being tackled late in the second quarter.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that if Gabriel clears the concussion protocol, he’ll start next Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The team’s decision depends on how fast he recovers. She said the coach did not provide clarity on the concussion evaluation or the circumstances that led to it. He did assure the media that Gabriel did get evaluated at halftime. Sadly, Gabriel was formally ruled out during that third stanza.
As for Gabriel’s possible return, Stefanski played coy. He didn’t rule out the possibility of Gabriel having to attend several practices this week to be granted the status to face the Raiders. If Gabriel can’t pass the protocol, rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be making his first NFL start.
Sanders started his professional career as the No. 4 QB on Cleveland’s depth chart. During training camp, he was most frequently practicing with the second- and third-stringers. The fans at Huntington Bank Field almost shook the stadium with cheer when defensive end Myles Garrett notched his fourth sack. This amazing play led to a Ravens punt, the opening of the second half.
In his brief cameo, Sanders looked like a pro on his first two passes. The first one connected with wide receiver Cedric Tillman, and the second with tight end David Njoku. He faded from there, going just 4 for 16 for 47 yards with one interception. He was sacked twice and he only recorded two carries, for just 2 yards.
Stefanski later acknowledged the circumstances, but said the team’s focus was on getting its starter ready to play. “You’re always trying to get your starter ready to play,” he said.
Looking back on his performance, Sanders admitted he did not do a great job. “I don’t think I played good at all. I think there’s a lot of things we need to look at during the week and go and just get comfortable with even throwing routes with all those guys,” he expressed.
Even with all the adversity surrounding him, Garrett took action in support of his teammate. “He spoke after the game, and he wanted to pin it on himself and his performance, but we’re not going to allow him to do that,” he said.
Cleveland’s selection of Sanders in the middle of the first round was an unexpected move earlier this year. Though early mock drafts had him going in the first round, he was ultimately chosen 144th overall. This has only increased the pressure on his performance as he gears up for what’s likely a baptism by fire start against a talented Raiders squad.
As the Browns head into their upcoming matchup, uncertainty looms over Gabriel’s health and Sanders’ readiness to take over as starting quarterback. The team will closely monitor Gabriel’s progress throughout the week as they prepare for their critical game in Las Vegas.
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