Gabriel will start season as backup QB

BEREA — Dillon Gabriel's performance in the final two preseason games appeared to be enough for the Cleveland Browns to go with three quarterbacks instead of four.Coach Kevin Stefanski selected the rookie third-round pick as Joe Flacco's backup Tuesday after the initial 53-man roster was set.Gabriel looked set as the second quarterback after Cleveland dealt Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders for a fifth-round pick in the 2026 draft Monday."We feel comfortable with Dillon serving that role," Stefanski said. "Kenny's a guy I think very highly of and so do I wish him well. He's a really good football player, but those are the type of decisions that you have to make."Gabriel directed the Browns to either a touchdown or field goal on five of his seven drives. He also directed a pair of two-minute, first-half drives against the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams.In his two preseason outings, Gabriel completed 25 of 37 passes for 272 yards with one touchdown and one interception.Stefanski added though that assessing Gabriel went beyond the games."It's such an all-encompassing evaluation. Everything the guys did in the games was important. We also saw a lot of them out here in practice and how they are at their craft," Stefanski said. "He's certainly somebody that we think is getting better and better."Pickett did not play in any of the preseason games and was limited since suffering a hamstring injury July 26.Fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders will be third string and the scout team QB.If the Browns wanted to bring in another experienced quarterback, they could do so via the practice squad. One option would be Tyler Huntley, who was released Sunday but was the only QB to appear in all three preseason games.Deshaun Watson is making steady progress after his Achilles tendon injuries, but was placed on the physically unable to perform list. New kicker The Browns waived kicker Dustin Hopkins and will keep Andre Szmyt. During the preseason, Szmyt made all three of his field goal attempts — including a 37-yard game-winner against the Rams in the third week of the preseason — as well as one extra point attempt. The Browns can make additional roster moves in the coming days via waiver claims and free agent signings. They also will look to construct a 16-man practice squad. Browns' 53-man rosterQuarterbacks (3): Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur SandersRunning backs (2): Jerome Ford, Dylan SampsonWide receivers (6): Isaiah Bond, DeAndre Carter, Jerry Jeudy, Gage Larvadain, Jamari Thrash, Cedric TillmanTight ends (4): Brenden Bates, Harold Fannin Jr., David Njoku, Blake WhiteheartOffensive linemen (10): Joel Bitonio, Jack Conklin, Teven Jenkins, Dawand Jones, KT Leveston, Cornelius Lucas, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Luke Wypler, Zak ZinterDefensive linemen (10): Maliek Collins, Myles Garrett, Mason Graham, Mike Hall Jr., Shelby Harris, Adin Huntington, Isaiah McGuire, Cameron Thomas, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Alex WrightLinebackers (5): Jerome Baker, Devin Bush, Mohamoud Diabate, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Carson SchwesingerDefensive backs (10): Grant Delpit, Myles Harden, Ronnie Hickman, Rayshawn Jenkins, Dom Jones, Damontae Kazee, Donovan McMillon, Cameron Mitchell, Greg Newsome II, Denzel WardSpecialists (3): Corey Bojorquez, Andre Szmyt, Rex Sunahara