While the Cleveland Browns are not a top team, their quarterback room with Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders has been heavily discussed. Throughout the offseason, there was a big discussion about who should be higher on the depth chart between Gabriel and Sanders, and which one should get the first opportunity to start if Flacco struggled.
It is still early in the season, so Flacco is still starting. He even led the Browns to an upset win over the Green Bay Packers last week. However, in the first quarter of the team’s game against the Detroit Lions this week, he drew criticism from analyst Emmanuel Acho.
Acho posted a clip of Flacco making a bad pass that was way off target and resulted in an interception. He then called for the Browns to start either Gabriel or Sanders if Flacco is playing that badly.
“If Flacco doing stuff like this, go ahead and play Gabriel and Shedeur, because what the hell was this?” Emmanuel Acho wrote.
If Flacco doing stuff like this, go ahead and play Gabriel and Shedeur, because what the hell was this? pic.twitter.com/LPVxbEEyTz
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) September 28, 2025
Will Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders Get the First Start for the Cleveland Browns?
Joe Flacco is still the starter for the Cleveland Browns. The team has not given an indication that it is thinking about starting one of its rookies in the immediate future. However, if Joe Flacco continues to have a poor game against Detroit, that could change. As things stand, Dillon Gabriel would likely get the start over Sanders.
Gabriel has been in the backup role for the Browns. He even appeared briefly for the Browns in the team’s Week 2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Gabriel completed all three of his passing attempts for 19 yards and a TD.
Conversely, Shedeur Sanders is the team’s third-string QB and has mostly been relegated to getting reps with the practice squad. Although there is a chance Sanders could draw into the lineup later in the season, it is unlikely to happen before Gabriel gets his opportunity.
The Browns will have another tough matchup in Week 5. They will play the Minnesota Vikings in a game in London, England. They will play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It is unlikely that the Browns will give a rookie their first start in that environment. So, if things continue to go poorly, Week 6 against Pittsburgh could be the week to watch.
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