The Cleveland Browns have named Dillon Gabriel as their starting quarterback for the upcoming game against the Minnesota Vikings in London. At age 24, Gabriel is on the verge of making history! If he does, he’ll become the first quarterback to begin his career in an international game. In a surprising twist, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has elected to bench the new addition, veteran QB Joe Flacco. Now Flacco will become the starter.
Gabriel’s ascent to the starting position follows a series of notable performances in training camp, where he received significant practice reps with the starting offense. His hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed by Stefanski, who stated, “From the second he’s been here, he’s been working very hard.”
The Browns took Gabriel in the 94th slot of the teams April draft. At the collegiate level, he has the best winning percentage of any college football player ever with the most quarterback starts and most touchdowns in FBS history. He has only seen a handful of minutes in games this season. He replaced Flacco on the last series against the Detroit Lions and played the last drive of a 41-17 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2.
He was thrust into a major decision making position when he chose Gabriel over incumbent starter Dillon Gabriel. He said that the decision was “in the best interest of the football team.” As Gabriel prepares for his debut, he expresses a keen understanding of seizing opportunities, stating, “You wait for the perfect time, you are going to wait a whole lifetime.”
If he takes the first snap Saturday night, Gabriel will become the 41st different quarterback to play for the team since its 1999 NFL return. This transfer sheds light on the team’s continued search for stability at the position. This leaves Shedeur Sanders as the third-string quarterback for the Browns, bringing Cleveland’s initial roster to a close heading into this pivotal matchup.
As Gabriel makes his debut this weekend on the field in London, the excitement should be palpable. Fans are eager to see how he translates his college success to pro success. The stakes are high as he takes on a formidable opponent in the Vikings, looking to lead his team to victory and establish himself as a rising star in the league.
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