Browns name Dillon Gabriel backup quarterback over Shedeur Sanders after preseason evaluation

Dave Wannstedt joins Colin Cowherd to discuss Joe Flacco being named the starter of the Cleveland Browns, Caleb Williams’ impressive preseason drive, and whether or not the Miami Dolphins can bounce back this season.

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has made his decision on who will back up Joe Flacco at quarterback this season, and it’s not Shedeur Sanders.

Instead, the rookie drafted two rounds earlier, Dillon Gabriel, has been named the backup to the 41-year-old Flacco heading into Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

In turn, Stefanski said that Sanders, who was taken in the fifth round by the Browns back in April, will serve as the emergency third quarterback to start the year.

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Dillon Gabriel #5 and Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns run a drill during Cleveland Browns mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2025 in Berea, Ohio.   (Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

Stefanski spoke about the decision to go with Gabriel over Sanders to start the year.

"It’s such an all-encompassing evaluation," he told reporters. "Everything the guys did in the games was important, but we also saw a lot of them out here in practice. How they are at their craft, and [Gabriel] is certainly someone we think is getting better and better."

BROWNS MAKE STUNNING KENNY PICKETT TRADE TO RAIDERS AS BACKUP QUARTERBACK ROLE REMAINS WIDE OPEN

The decision was between Gabriel and Sanders after Cleveland made decisive quarterback moves before finalizing their 53-man roster on Tuesday ahead of the league’s 4 p.m. ET deadline.

First, veteran Tyler "Snoop" Huntley was waived, and the Browns followed that up by trading Kenny Pickett to the