The Cleveland Browns walked into Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday with rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, back on the field just two weeks after a hamstring setback. The ex-Oregon star was handed the reins against the Philadelphia Eagles after Shedeur Sanders suffered an oblique strain, and the Browns continue to shuffle a quarterback room hit hard by injuries.
As Gabriel stepped into the Lincoln Financial Field, he became the talk of social media as fans spotted him walking into the stadium ahead of his first real chance to prove himself in an NFL uniform.
Dillon Gabriel and the Browns arrive at Lincoln Financial Field for preseason game No. 2 vs. the Eagles (via @CodyWins25) pic.twitter.com/JZp49pJv0l
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) August 16, 2025
However, they didn’t go easy on the 24-year-old rookie as his arrival set off a wave of reactions online. One viewer wrote, “Damn no Aura. Stadium ain’t shaked. Hopefully he can ball out.”
Another added, “@Eagles injure him.”
A harsher take claimed, “Aura -1000.”
Others chimed in with equal bluntness, commenting, “He doesn’t even look like and NFL QB.”
One critic joked, “Who invited the dwarf.”
Yet not every response was negative. Some called for patience, reminding others that preseason is about growth and not instant perfection.
A user wrote, “He gonna be in the HOF after he QB1.”
Another joined in, writing, “DG5 is in the building!!!”
Gabriel’s debut takes on added weight with both Sanders and veteran Joe Flacco unavailable. With Cleveland’s quarterback competition still wide open, the rookie’s performance under the primetime lights could help him climb the depth chart, or reinforce Sanders’ position as the future signal-caller for Cleveland.
Chad Johnson Revives NFL Softness Debate With Shots at Dillon Gabriel, Kenny Pickett Amid Browns QB Flux
The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback carousel will see rookie Dillon Gabriel being handed the starting job against the Philadelphia Eagles, just one week after Shedeur Sanders made his own preseason debut. However, as Gabriel prepared for his chance, ex-NFL star turned analyst Chad Johnson used the Browns’ injury-plagued quarterback room to spark an old debate about the NFL’s toughness.
“Yeah, it is. Body’s funny. But I know one thing, too many players are getting hurt,” said Johnson.
He pointed to both Gabriel and Pickett’s hamstring issues, while flexing how he spent 11 years in the league without any such difficulties.
“These NFL teams need me in there. I’ve got a plan. I could give a whole PowerPoint to keep these guys from getting hurt… The NFL Is protecting players more today than ever,… but I managed to do it for 11 years without no injury, None. nothing. Zero. Zilch.”
The fiery comments landed just hours before Gabriel’s first start and fueled a fresh conversation about durability in today’s NFL. Many have raised the matter, including legendary QB Tom Brady, who claimed that the league had gotten “softer” back in 2021. While the debate grows, Gabriel’s performance will draw eyeballs as he steps into the NFL spotlight for the first time after an injury-laden week.
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