Browns bench Flacco, turn to Gabriel as starter

The Cleveland Browns are benching seasoned backmost Joe Flacco and volition crook to rookie Dillon Gabriel arsenic their starter for Sunday's crippled successful London against the Minnesota Vikings.

Browns players were informed of the backmost alteration Wednesday morning, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The squad officially announced the determination aboriginal Wednesday, but did not disclose a extent illustration down Gabriel.

Flacco volition service arsenic Cleveland's backup Sunday, portion rookie Shedeur Sanders volition stay the third-string quarterback, sources told Schefter.

Flacco started Cleveland's archetypal 4 games but has thrown six interceptions this season, including a brace of first-half interceptions successful past Sunday's 34-10 nonaccomplishment to the Detroit Lions.

Gabriel replaced Flacco successful the last bid successful Detroit, arsenic helium did for the past possession successful a lopsided decision to the Baltimore Ravens successful Week 2. After the nonaccomplishment to the Lions, manager Kevin Stefanski sidestepped a question astir sticking with Flacco successful Week 5.

Flacco has an NFL-high 8 turnovers, and his 27.0 Total QBR lone ranks supra Tennessee Titans rookie Cam Ward among qualifying passers.

Through 4 games, the Browns person the NFL's second-lowest scoring offense, averaging conscionable 14 points per game.

The Browns selected Gabriel, a six-year assemblage subordinate astatine UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon, with the 94th wide prime successful April's draft. Gabriel received important signifier reps with the starting discourtesy during grooming camp, which signaled the coaching staff's content that helium was acceptable to play sooner alternatively than later.

After spending the 2024 play with the Indianapolis Colts, Flacco reunited with the Browns, signing a one-year, $4 cardinal deal. Flacco, the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, emerged from a crowded backmost country that besides included Sanders and Kenny Pickett.

Pickett was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, leaving Gabriel and Sanders arsenic Flacco's backups to unfastened the season. Gabriel was named the No. 2 QB, portion Sanders has been the 3rd and exigency QB.