After a 1-3 start to their 2025 season, the Cleveland Browns announced they are benching veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.
The decision came on Wednesday, ahead of Sunday’s Week 5 matchup in London against the Minnesota Vikings — the NFL’s third international showdown of the season.
Is Shedeur Sanders the Browns’ Starting Quarterback After Flacco’s Benching?
Flacco, who started the first four games but threw six interceptions and led the league with turnovers, will serve as the team’s backup on Sunday. He is ranked 34th in PFSN’s QB ranking in the season, with an impact score of 53.9, much lower than the 72.9 league average.
Joe Flacco will be the No. 2 QB and Shedeur Sanders will be the emergency No. 3 on Sunday in London. https://t.co/8V9oySAj3E
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 1, 2025
Rookie Dillon Gabriel, who was picked 94th in the 2025 NFL draft, will start on Sunday, with Flacco as the backup, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Meanwhile, highly-touted rookie Shedeur Sanders remains the third-string quarterback — a move that has fans questioning the Browns’ QB strategy.
Browns Face Backlash After Sanders Stranded at QB3
Cleveland fans were quick to voice their frustration on social media, with many questioning why fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders remains buried as QB3.
“This is all politics when it comes to Shedeur. Nothing to do with performance. True wickedness,” one fan wrote, while another added, “Please trade Shedeur. @Browns Please. Y’all evil for holding him hostage. Put him on the practice squad.”
Other fans echoed the sentiment that keeping Sanders off the field makes little sense. A third tweeted, “Shedeur isn’t even going to get backup reps this bs. Flacco is done. Why make him QB2? It makes no sense.” Another chimed in, saying, “They just avoiding Shedeur at all costs but they said that when they sign him, sad case.”
Shedeur isn’t even going to get backup reps this bs. Flacco is done. Why make him qb2. It makes no sense
— DD🩷 (@lindaa309) October 1, 2025
Even those supportive of Gabriel’s promotion expressed surprise that Sanders is still a third-string player.
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One post suggested Flacco should’ve been moved to QB3: “The @Browns made a smart move moving to one of the rookies. What I don’t like is how they still got Shedeur at third stream.” Another fan shared the same sentiment: “Free Shedeur. Flacco sucks.”
Another questioned whether it was because Sanders is still not ready for the big league: “I agree with Dillon Gabriel starting, but Shedeur not being the backup? Does he not know the playbook or something? He must really can’t read an NFL defense, huh?”
MORE: Pro Bowl QB Reveals the Main Reason the Browns Need to Start Shedeur Sanders
Gabriel, a six-year college journeyman who played at UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon, had already seen brief action in garbage time, replacing Flacco in the final series against Detroit and in Week 2 against Baltimore.
In his limited NFL action so far, Gabriel has completed 75% of his passes (3-of-4) for 19 yards and a touchdown. His early reps with the starting offense in training camp suggested the coaching staff believed he was ready for a bigger role.
The Browns’ offense has struggled with Flacco, averaging just 14 points per game, the second-lowest in the league. Despite the shake-up, Cleveland appears to be cautious by keeping a popular rookie like Sanders off the field as fans push for Sanders to see meaningful playing time.
