For the second straight week, an NFL team is benching a former Super Bowl-winning quarterback in favor of a rookie.
Browns to start rookie QB after Joe Flacco gets benched
Joe Flacco is headed to the bench as the Browns turn to a rookie quarterback
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Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.
Last week, it was the New York Giants, who sat down Russell Wilson and turned to first-round pick Jaxson Dart out of Mississippi. The rookie delivered a win in his first NFL start, completing 13-of-20 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown, along with a rushing score, as the Giants knocked off the previously undefeated Los Angeles Chargers.
Now the Cleveland Browns are hoping for something similar from Dillion Gabriel.
According to multiple reports and following a few days of speculation, the Browns are benching veteran Joe Flacco and turning to their third-round selection from the 2025 NFL Draft. While Flacco led Cleveland to their only win of the season, a 13-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Week 3, he has been largely ineffective for the Cleveland offense.
On the season, Flacco has completed just 58.1% of his passes and has thrown more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (two). In last week’s blowout loss to the Detroit Lions, Flacco completed just 16-of-34 passes for 184 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions.
After the loss, Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski dismissed the idea of a quarterback change, instead pointing to the entire offense. “That’s not our focus,” said Stefanski. “We didn’t do enough on offense.”
Flacco’s two interceptions on Sunday in Detroit might require some context. On the first, there seems to be miscommunication with wide receiver Cedric Tillman:
Facing a press-aligned defender, Tillman runs a quick hitch route. Flacco, however, seems to expect Tillman to stay vertical and lofts a throw up the sideline, which is intercepted by safety Kerby Joseph.
On the second, Flacco looks to Jerry Jeudy, who stumbles on the break, allowing the cornerback to get into position for the interception:
However, with the Cleveland offense looking for a spark, Stefanski must believe that the rookie can bring something different to the huddle.
During preseason action Gabriel completed 25-of-37 of his passes (a 67.6% completion percentage) for 272 yards and one touchdown, along with one interception. In limited action this regular season, Gabriel has completed 3-of-4 passes for 19 yards and this touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in mop-up duty of a blowout:
Flacco will serve as the backup, while rookie Shedeur Sanders will be the team’s emergency quarterback.
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