The Cleveland Browns had their preseason opener versus the Chicago Bears on Saturday. Deshaun Watson got the start under center, but he only played the first half of Saturday’s loss. After that, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel got a chance to play.
Watson played well on Saturday, but neither Sanders nor Gabriel looked great under center during Saturday’s exhibition contest. Gabriel played the worst of the bunch and could’ve put his future in Cleveland in question after Saturday’s struggle.
“Dillon Gabriel’s Day: 5/8, 22 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 2 sacks,” Camryn Justice wrote.
Dillon Gabriel's Day:
5/8, 22 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 2 sacks
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) August 15, 2026
It was a rough outing for Gabriel, who completed 5-of-8 passing attempts for 22 yards with one interception, and he took two sacks. The second-year quarterback doesn’t appear to have made much progress from his rookie campaign. It would be a lot more of the same, which could mean Gabriel’s spot on the roster is in danger.
Barring any injuries, the quarterback competition is down to Watson and Sanders. Gabriel hasn’t shown the Browns enough on the field to even be put in the competition for the starting gig. At this point, the Browns might pass up Gabriel for rookie Taylen Green.
Last season, Gabriel threw for 937 passing yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions in 10 games (six starts) in Cleveland. Those aren’t bad stats, but Gabriel fails to make the big play when he’s under center. He continues to make short-yardage plays that aren’t going to be enough to get the job done.
It’s only his second year in the NFL, but the Browns might have more faith in Green as a prospect. The Browns selected Gabriel with a third-round pick in 2025, so you’d think he’d get a longer leash, but maybe the Browns have seen enough to decide on what type of player he is.
The 25-year-old should keep getting reps during the final two preseason games. The Browns might try to build up his value in the hope that they can trade him elsewhere before the start of the season. They’ll likely only want to carry three quarterbacks into the season. Right now, it seems like Watson, Sanders, and Green are going to be those players.
NEXT: Analyst Reveals Big Concern About Browns After Loss To Bears
