RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Cleveland Browns backup quarterback Dillon Gabriel barely played against the Bills. Getty
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 22: Deshaun Watson #4, Shedeur Sanders #2 and Dillon Gabriel #6 of the Cleveland Browns take the field prior to a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field on August 22, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) Getty
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 22: Head coach Todd Monken of the Cleveland Browns looks on prior to a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field on August 22, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) Getty
Dillon Gabriel barely played against the Buffalo Bills, but his brief appearance drew some of Todd Monken’s harshest criticism following the Cleveland Browns’ 31-7 loss.
Gabriel replaced Deshaun Watson late in the fourth quarter and attempted only one pass. Cleveland committed three false-start penalties during Gabriel’s first possession, leaving Monken furious with the operation.
“At the end, you wanna talk about (expletive) football. I don’t care who goes out there,” Monken said. “If I could have taken a knee, I probably would have. What the (expletive)? I don’t know what to tell you. We work on cadence and operation, and we will continue to do it. You can’t lead an offense if you can’t lead a cadence.”
Gabriel finished 0-for-1 and never had a realistic opportunity to establish a rhythm. And the false starts may not have been completely on him. However, Monken made it clear that playing time and supporting personnel did not excuse the breakdowns.
“Browns hurting Browns,” he said. “You’re not going to have a chance when you do that.”
Dillon Gabriel Fighting to Keep Browns Roster Spot
Getty Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel of the Cleveland Browns .
The disastrous final possession was a tough look for Gabriel , who is competing to simply remain on the roster in Cleveland.
Gabriel had drawn praise earlier in training camp despite remaining behind Watson and Shedeur Sanders in the starting competition. Monken said the second-year quarterback had earned additional opportunities by maximizing his limited work.
“Everybody’s competing, but you’re not guaranteed the same amount of reps,” Monken said early in camp. “So it’s up to the player to take advantage and maximize those reps, which I feel like Dillon has done.”
Gabriel has failed to carry that momentum into the preseason. He completed 5 of 8 passes for 23 yards with one interception and two sacks in Cleveland’s 34-10 loss to the Chicago Bears . His one attempt against Buffalo fell incomplete.
The Browns selected Gabriel in the third round last season. He started six games as a rookie, going 1-5 while completing 59.5% of his passes for 937 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
Gabriel eventually lost the starting job after suffering a concussion . Sanders replaced him and remained the starter for the final seven games.
Cleveland added more competition by selecting Taylen Green in the sixth round this year. Green has received limited work but is expected to see action in the team’s preseason finale against the New England Patriots .
Browns Still Weighing Starting Quarterback Decision
Getty Head coach Todd Monken of the Cleveland Browns looks on prior to a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.
Monken entered Saturday expecting to have enough information to settle the competition between Watson and Sanders. His team’s performance complicated the evaluation .
“Not there yet,” Monken said when asked about naming a starter. “That wasn’t our best foot forward. I have to watch the film before I say anything. It’s not the time for me to go anywhere with any personnel. I’m frustrated with the way we ended that in the second half. That’s not good enough.”
Sanders delivered the better statistical outing, completing 9 of 11 passes for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a half of play. He led an 11-play, 65-yard scoring drive and connected with Luke Floriea for an 8-yard touchdown.
Watson completed 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards and an interception in just over a quarter. He was loudly booed after replacing Sanders in the third and failed to lead a scoring drive.
“Well, at some point, I’m gonna have to decide, right?” Monken said. “I’m saying it kinda jokingly, like at some point, we’ve got to get that guy the reps. So I’m not gonna paint myself into a corner. Optimally, you’d liked to have given a player all of the reps, and you know who the No. 1 is. We’ve done it as best we could as a staff, trying to work through this.”
Cleveland opens the regular season on September 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars .
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