Browns Make Quarterback Change

The Cleveland Browns will start rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel over veteran Joe Flacco in Sunday's (October 5) game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday (October 1) morning.

"QB change: The #Browns are making the move, as rookie QB Dillon Gabriel is set to be their starting QB, while Joe Flacco heads to the bench after a few weeks of struggles, per The Insiders. A look to the future for Cleveland," Rapoport wrote on his X account. "Coach Kevin Stefanski informed the players in a team meeting this morning. Dillon Gabriel gets the ball."

The Browns confirmed the move shortly after Rapoport's report.

"We’ve named Dillon Gabriel the starter for Sunday’s game against the Vikings," the team wrote in a post shared on its X account.

Flacco will serve as the Browns' backup while rookie Shedeur Sanders, who was selected two rounds behind Gabriel in the 2025 NFL Draft, will serve as QB3, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe.

"Browns always wanted to see their rookie QBs this year, and with offense + Joe Flacco struggling they decide now is time," Wolfe wrote on his X account.

Flacco, 40, threw for 815 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions on 93 of 160 passing, while leading the Browns to a 1-3 record through their first three games. Gabriel, 24, was a First-team All-American, the Big Ten Most Valuable Player, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and the Big Ten Quarterback of the Year during his final collegiate season at Oregon, having previously played at UCF (2019-2021) and Oklahoma (2022-2023).