Dillon Gabriel named Cleveland Browns starting QB; Joe Flacco benched
There’s a new sheriff in town. Adam Schefter reported Wednesday morning that the Browns are officially benching veteran Joe Flacco in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel.
The move comes after a 1-3 start to the Browns’ season, in which the offense seemingly got worse every game. The Browns 2025 offense under Flacco is a far cry from 2023’s success. Total offense? 27th. Passing yards-per-game? 20th, which is not as impressive as it sounds when you’re always trailing. Rushing yards-per-game? 30th. Points-per-game? 31st of 32.
Gabriel, who the Browns drafted in the third round, takes over for Flacco as the Browns cross the pond in London. In limited regular season action, Gabriel is 3-for-4 passing for 19 yards and a passing touchdown. In two games of preseason action, Gabriel passed 25-for-37 (67.6%) for 272 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Aside from Gabriel, rookie Shedeur Sanders remains third on the Browns depth chart behind Flacco.
Gabriel ended his college career at Oregon after stops at Central Florida and Oklahoma. While Gabriel’s senior season ended in a blowout loss to Ohio State, Dillon is one of the most prolific collegiate quarterbacks ever. Gabriel holds a number of FBS records, most notably touchdowns responsible for and points responsible for.
Gabriel’s 155 career touchdown passes are tied with former Browns QB Case Keenum for the most in FBS history.
Gabriel will be without receiver Cedric Tillman this weekend, which does not bode well for the rookie. The Browns have leaned heavily on tight ends David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. with the lack of production from the wide receiver room. Jerry Jeudy, who will make $41 million guaranteed on his contract extension, is tied for 48th in the NFL in receiving yards.
The Browns next wide receiver on the depth chart? Isaiah Bond, 126th in the NFL. The Browns will have to rely heavily on the run game and getting Gabriel into rhythm throws to make this work with the severe lack of talent around him.
Flacco getting benched opens up many opportunities in the QB room. Gabriel will get the go, and should have a fair leash, but the Browns have multiple QBs behind him. If Flacco starts again, that means something went wrong.
Mary Kay Cabot indicated that Deshaun Watson will be ready to return at some point this season, and some Browns’ fans believe Sanders is the lottery ticket the franchise has been waiting for.
Kansas City Chiefs' Dominant Path to Crushing the Raiders in Week 7 Just Got Shockingly Easier – Here's Why You Can't Miss It
The Kansas City Chiefs are finally looking and feeling like themselves again after a dominant 37-20 victory in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season against the Baltimore Ravens. The game was even more lopsided than the final score showed.
Despite their rough start to the year, they sit at 2-2 and just a game or so behind the 3-1 Los Angeles Chargers for first place in the AFC West. Unfortunately, the Chiefs have two tough games coming up, as they'll travel to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars and return home to face the Detroit Lions.
After that, however, they have what appears to be yet another easy game looming against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7. It's not like Kansas City needed any more help against Las Vegas, but they just got some in the form of a brutal Raiders injury update.
Raiders' Kolton Miller injury is final nail in the coffin for Chiefs in Week 7
In Week 4's game against the Chicago Bears, Raiders star left tackle Kolton Miller, who the team gave a $66 million extension this offseason, left the game with an ankle injury. On Tuesday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Miller broke his ankle and sustained a high ankle sprain, so he'll head to IR.
This means that Miller will be out for Week 7's game between the Chiefs and the Raiders. Kansas City fans are not necessarily cheering for an opponent's injury, but they'll gladly take the fortunate break, as Las Vegas is now missing one of its best players.
It's not like the Raiders' offensive line was impressing anyone this season, as they've already given up 12 sacks and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty has had nowhere to run. But just when things started to look improved in Week 4, it all came crashing down with Miller's injury.
RELATED:
Not only is Miller the most experienced and talented player on the Las Vegas offensive line, but he is the longest-tenured Raider in the building. This is sure to have a residual emotional effect on the rest of the team, considering his leadership position.
Chris Jones, George Karlaftis and Mike Danna are surely licking their chops at a matchup with either Stone Forsythe, a failed Pete Carroll project from his days with the Seattle Seahawks, or rookie third-rounder Charles Grant, Carroll's current project, who has yet to be active this season.
Kansas City obviously takes every game seriously under Andy Reid, and the Raiders, for whatever reason, can make things interesting with the Chiefs. But there is a very good chance that Las Vegas is 1-5 or 2-4 heading into Arrowhead Stadium in mid-October, without their star left tackle, to boot.
