While the Cleveland Browns have officially named Joe Flacco their starting quarterback, fan attention has quickly shifted to the battle for the backup positions, with rookie Dillon Gabriel facing intense scrutiny.
How Did Dillon Gabriel Fare in the Browns’ Preseason Finale?
Gabriel, selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, went two rounds ahead of fellow rookie signal-caller Shedeur Sanders. During the Browns’ final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams, Gabriel saw significant action, and his performance initially drew sharp criticism from the fanbase.
“Dillon Gabriel trash,” said X user Stringer Bell. “Dillon Gabriel is NOT good #browns,” posted another user named “herb.”
At one point, the criticism was amplified when Gabriel missed a wide-open Kaden Davis for what should have been an easy touchdown.
Dillon Gabriel misses easy TD pass opportunity to Kaden Davis
Throws ball in dirt instead 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/f8OQNry9pS
— Brutal (@BrutalAsBucs) August 23, 2025
“Dillon Gabriel throwing medical balls .. G**d***,” said X user A.B.
Other fans on X went even further. Geno Hobbyist wrote, “Dillon Gabriel Sucks! How TF is he QB2! (3/8 for 43 Yards) and he still hasn’t converted in the Red Zone! No TD’s in 2 preseason games. YIKES!”
However, that negative assessment was written early in his appearance. As the game progressed toward halftime, Gabriel’s performance improved significantly from his initial 3-for-8 start for 43 yards.
By halftime, he had turned things around, finishing the half 12 of 19 for 129 yards and a touchdown. After some accuracy issues on the first drive, Gabriel settled in and bounced back. His touchdown pass went to wide receiver Gage Larvadain, where he appeared to look off the safety, leaving Larvadain wide open for the score.
Dillon Gabriel runs the 2-minute drill to perfection and gets the @Browns a touchdown before the end of the half
Watch on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/35Cv1XlfD7
— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2025
He ran the two-minute drill exceptionally well, leading the team to a touchdown right before the break.
Of course, the quarterback situation in Cleveland is complicated. Gabriel is on the same team as Sanders, who is one of the more polarizing figures in the NFL. Some fans believe he should be the starter, while others are counting down the days until he might be cut.
Sanders has been dealing with an oblique injury, but he is expected to get playing time in the second half of this final preseason game. It remains to be seen how he will perform and whether he can match or surpass Gabriel’s comeback effort.
As it stands, the Browns have four quarterbacks on the roster: Flacco, Gabriel, Sanders, and Kenny Pickett. The team now faces a decision. Will one of them be traded or cut, or will the Browns keep all four? That question will likely be answered in the coming days.
