Browns make rookie Dillon Gabriel starter, QB41 since 1999

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Before changing continents, the Cleveland Browns are switching quarterbacks.

Rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel will start Sunday in London, replacing Joe Flacco as the QB1 for the Browns. Cleveland (1-3) plays the Minnesota Vikings (2-2) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the team is traveling for the Week 5 game on Wednesday.

“You just have do everything in your power to get ready for when your number is called,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday. “It’s going to be the first time for Dillon on Sunday, but you try to build off of all your experiences.

“From the second he’s been here he’s been working really hard. Very intelligent young man. This whole season he’s been learning how to get yourself ready and understand the rhythm of an NFL week and what that looks like as a backup. Obviously we now feel like he’s ready to go in as the starter.”

Gabriel was named the No. 2 quarterback to Flacco on Aug. 26 when the Browns made the expected decision to begin the season with the 40-year-old veteran in the starting role. But Cleveland has 56 total points in four games and hasn’t scored more than 17 in a game this season.

“I got a text from a good buddy of mine, and he sent me a picture of a fire station,” Gabriel said Wednesday. “When he sent it, it’s like ‘Why you sending that?’ He listed the obvious, like, garage doors are open, things are ready to go, just waited on that phone call. What a great representation of the job I have and being ready for that moment. I smiled.

“You wait for the perfect time, you’re gonna wait a whole lifetime.”

Flacco completed 93 of 160 passes for 815 yards and two touchdowns. He has an NFL-high eight turnovers, including six interceptions.

Gabriel has appeared in two games in mop-up duty. He completed all three of his passes for 19 yards and one TD to running back Dylan Sampson in Week 2 at Baltimore, and was 0 for 1 last week in late-game relief at Detroit.

Minnesota’s defense is a major test for most quarterbacks, no less a rookie making his first career start.

The Vikings run a complex scheme orchestrated by Brian Flores predicated on blitz and coverage disguise that keeps even well-trained vets guessing. Since becoming defensive coordinator of the Vikings, Flores is 4-0 against rookie quarterbacks.

Flacco, described as the most natural thrower in the NFL by Packers coach Matt LaFleur earlier this season, was known for his arm strength and ability to get the ball down the field with ease. He will be the No. 2 QB in London with rookie fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders in the No. 3 role. The fourth quarterback involved in the training camp competition was Kenny Pickett, but the Browns traded him to the Raiders.

“He’s into it. He’s ready to go,” Flacco said Wednesday. “I’m sure he’s super-excited about this opportunity. You can tell he takes it seriously just by the way he studies.”

Gabriel, 24, is not entirely inexperienced after six seasons in college at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon. He received a share of the first-team reps in training camp and through the start of the regular season in an early signal the Browns were preparing him for the top role.

In 63 college starts, Gabriel set the FBS record with 189 total touchdowns (155 passing, 33 rushing, one receiving) and is second all-time in passing yards (18,722).

Oregon and Oklahoma operated an up-tempo spread offense with shorter, high-percentage throws than a traditional pro-style scheme. At 5-foot-11, Gabriel does require a quick release and cleaner pass protection than the 6-foot-6 Flacco.

Gabriel will become the 41st quarterback to start for the Browns since Tim Couch in 1999, when the Cleveland franchise returned to the NFL.

A full list of Browns players to make at least one start since 1999:

Tim Couch (59), Baker Mayfield (59), Derek Anderson (34), Colt McCoy (21), Brandon Weeden (20), Charlie Frye (19), Brian Hoyer (16), DeShone Kizer (15), Kelly Holcomb (12), Brady Quinn (12), Deshaun Watson (12), Trent Dilfer (11), Jacoby Brissett (11), Josh McCown (11), Jeff Garcia (10), Joe Flacco (9), Doug Pederson (8), Jason Campbell (8), Johnny Manziel (8), Cody Kessler (8), Seneca Wallace (7), Dorian Thompson-Robinson (5), Robert Griffin III (5), Jake Delhomme (4), Luke McCown (4), Ken Dorsey (3), Tyrod Taylor (3), Ty Detmer (2), Austin Davis (2), Case Keenum (2), P.J. Walker (2), Bailey Zappe (1), Spergon Wynn (1), Bruce Gradkowski (1), Thad Lewis (1), Connor Shaw (1), Kevin Hogan (1), Nick Mullens (1) and Jeff Driskel (1).

–Field Level Media