Jerry Jeudy Fires Back After Drop, Supports Dillon Gabriel as Browns’ QB1
The Cleveland Browns are making a change at quarterback, hoping it can spark the offense and top wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
The Browns announced the shift to Dillon Gabriel this week. He’ll replace 40-year-old Joe Flacco, who struggled during the team’s 1-3 start. Cleveland is averaging just 14 points per game and explosive plays have been hard to come by.
Jeudy has struggled, in particular. He has just 13 catches for 182 yards and has not found the end zone yet. Jeudy is confident in Gabriel as he enters as the Browns‘ new QB1.
“Dillon, he’s a smart dude,” Jeudy said. “He knows where to go with the ball. He knows what the coaching staff wants within the offense. He does a great job of that.”
Browns QB Dillon Gabriel Big Fan of Jerry Jeudy
Gabriel has had limited time working with the first team offense. But he’s familiar with Jeudy’s game and praised his top target.
“I’m the biggest fan of Jerry. I would be surprised to find anyone that thinks more highly of him than me, just the way he works, the way he attacks his day to day, but how much he loves the game as well. He shows his passion, and he’s a guy that we’re going to rely on, I’ll continue to rely on and a guy we’ll feed because he’s a big part of what we do,” Gabriel said. “So I think as we continue to build it, it’ll be building reps together and continuity, but I think that that’ll grow as time progresses.”
The Browns are shorthanded at wide receiver. Cedric Tillman was placed on injured reserve this week. He recorded 11 receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns over the first four games of the season. The Browns signed receivers Malachi Corley and Gage Larvadain to the active roster on Tuesday.
Browns WR Jerry Jeudy Putting Critical Drop Behind Him
Jeudy has had his share of drops this season, including during the Browns’ Week 4 loss to the Lions. It ignited a fiery rant from Jeudy in the locker room after the 34-10 loss.
“That (expletive) got me hot, bro,” Jeudy said after the game. “I make that damn play, bro. It was a big-time play. I got to catch them (expletive). I catch them (expletive) every day in practice. I make that play, bro. (Expletive) frustrating. … Man, as a receiver on this team, bro, as a wide receiver, I got to make those (expletive) plays, man.”
Jeudy says he’s put that play behind him and is eager to get back on track.
“No, I dwell on it on that day,” Jeudy said. “Other than that, I just move on, move forward. You know, this [is] football. It’s part of the game. That wasn’t my first drop, and that’s not going to be my last, you know, if you’re being honest. So, you know, I don’t really pay too much time on it. I do what I need to do to fix it and then move on from there.”
Jeudy and the Browns are a 3.5-point underdog this week as they take on the Minnesota Vikings in London.
Vikings Coach Gives Honest Answer About Fan Favorite All-Pro
The Minnesota Vikings are happy to have All-Pro and Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith back on the field after he missed the first two weeks of the regular season with an undisclosed illness.
However, the Vikings are also being smart with the 36-year-old veteran.
Now in his 14th NFL season, Smith is a six-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro. The Vikings want to ensure he is healthy and available down the stretch of the campaign. As such, they are taking the proper precautions.
Vikings Taking Deliberate Approach With Harrison Smith
Smith’s playing time, or lack thereof, has not gone unnoticed by Vikings fans, even those with ties to the coaching staff.
GettyHarrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“[Vikings defensive coordinator] Brian Flores said today that even his sons have been asking him why Harrison Smith hasn’t played more snaps,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported on X on October 2. “Like Smith and Kevin O’Connell, Flores explained that there is a pre-discussed rampup underway after Smith missed the majority of training camp.”
Flores, like many Vikings fans and fellow coaches, is a big fan of Smith’s.
“I think he adds an element of disguise, acumen, experience,” Flores told reporters after Smith’s first game back. “I was excited for him to get out there in front of the home crowd.
“We get the starting 11. We had to go 12 because Harry’s got to come out. That was good. That was good to kind of hear that the crowd roar for him, because he’s such a – he is the epitome of a Viking, and it was great to have him out there.”
Still, the Vikings have indeed long planned to take the cautious road with Smith
Kevin O’Connell Explains Plan for Harrison Smith
GettyHarrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on before a game against the New York Giants.
“It’s just a matter of time back on the grass,” O’Connell told reporters in early September before Smith’s season debut in Week 3. “It’s definitely not mental. He’s been doing this long enough to stay sharp. But yeah, it’s more of a physical ramp up for him as we move forward.”
Seifert previously laid out just how judiciously the Vikings have used Smith in his two games played this season.
“Harrison Smith has been a sub package player in each of his first two games back from a personal health issue,” Seifert posted on X on September 29. “He recorded 17 snaps Sunday in Dublin after playing 22 in Week 3 vs. Bengals. That’s roughly 35% of the Vikings‘ defensive snaps over the 2-week period.”
Smith is not looking to rock the boat, understanding that he is going through a process.
Harrison Smith Gets Honest About Ramp-Up Process
GettyVeteran safety Harrison Smith will not play in the Vikings 2025 season opener.
Smith has not shared much about his illness, but he shared a post on Facebook in September thanking fans for their support during his ordeal. More recently, he expressed a willingness to do whatever is asked of him and the difficulties of being a rotation player.
Smith had started every game he played in since 2013 before this season.
“I’m not sure [what the plan is] yet. Pretty flexible. And, yeah. Kind of like I’ve said the past couple weeks, just building just building it [stamina] back,” Smith told reporters on October 1.
“I think just normally playing every snap, you kind of tend to get in a flow a little bit easier. So, just trying to figure that out, which it’s not like rocket science or anything. But that’s about it, really. Just staying warm on the sideline, being alert, ready whenever I’m going in.”
