Cleveland quarterback Dillon Gabriel found himself in an awkward position during the Browns’ OTAs last week when defensive end Jared Verse showed up to practice with his No. 8 jersey. Verse, who arrived in Cleveland as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, donned the No. 8 jersey at the same time as Gabriel.
Dillon Gabriel’s Bizarre Jersey Number Controversy Draws Reactions
On Monday, “The Dawgs” podcast page on X revealed that after Verse’s silent coup last week, the Browns did not have a quarterback number remaining for Gabriel, with the numbers 1- 19 all taken.
The NFL world on X had mixed reactions to the revelation about Gabriel’s jersey number standoff with the organization.
Sports radio host Sean Pendergast pleaded with the Browns to put Gabriel out of his suffering by trading him. “Just trade the poor dude,” Pendergast wrote.
Podcaster John Rigolizzo criticized the NFL’s numbering system for causing the current awkward situation for Gabriel in Cleveland. “When the NFL adjusted the rules around jersey numbers, critics (myself among them) predicted that this exact thing would happen. There is no good reason for NFL linebackers to be wearing single digits. And tbh, WRs and DBs should have to earn them,” Rigolizzo posted.
Tommy Callahan had a hilarious suggestion to resolve Gabriel’s jersey number standoff: “Go with .5,” Callahan posted.
One user on X predicted that the signs were dire for Gabriel’s future in Cleveland next season. “Ya, Dillon Gabriel ain’t gonna be a Brown this year,” the account wrote.
‘BillboardBrandon’ predicted that the jersey situation is a sign that Gabriel is about to be cut by the Browns.”The sirens getting louder. He know he bout to get cut,” Brandon posted.
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After being selected No. 94 overall by the Browns during the 2025 NFL Draft, Gabriel started the season as Joe Flacco’s backup before the veteran was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals. Gabriel then took over as the QB1 before suffering a concussion and falling behind Shedeur Sanders as the team’s starter until the end of the season.
While speaking to reporters last week, Cleveland coach Todd Monken seemed to focus on Sanders and the returning Deshaun Watson as the prospective starters next season, further freezing out Gabriel.
“We look at the film, and then we assess that, and again, I think both of them are doing exactly what we’re asking them to do and competing like hell,” Monken said. “Every day, I kind of lean one way or the other with quarterbacks. I just tell you, we’ve got two starting-level quarterbacks. We really do.”
In his first season in the NFL, Gabriel started six and appeared in ten total games, tallying 937 passing yards on 59.5% completion, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions, finishing with a 1-5 record. He earned a PFSN QB Impact score of 50.8, which ranked second-worst in the league.
