The Browns’ quarterback situation is about to get squeezed again, and Dillon Gabriel may be the name to watch.
Cleveland got through the start of the season without having to cut or trade one of its four quarterbacks, thanks to Gabriel landing on short-term injured reserve with a back injury on roster cutdown day. That temporary fix is nearing its end. Gabriel’s 21-day practice window could be opened as soon as next week, and when that happens, GM Andrew Berry will have to sort through a depth chart that already looks settled on the surface.
Through three games, Deshaun Watson has held the starting job, Shedeur Sanders has been the backup, and rookie Taylen Green has stayed inactive as the emergency QB3 each week. Gabriel, meanwhile, has sat in a gray area that now feels a lot less temporary.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler doesn’t believe a trade is off the table. In the wake of the J.J. McCarthy trade to the New York Giants on Monday, Fowler pointed to the Browns as one of three teams that could move a backup quarterback for draft capital in the coming weeks.
“Three teams - the Eagles, Browns and Steelers - are carrying four quarterbacks and probably would welcome a deal at the right price," Fowler wrote. "And more injuries at the position will cause more trade talk.
We've already seen six established starters go down through the first three weeks. Kansas City sees QB2 upside with Garrett Nussmeier, so if there are trade inquiries for Justin Fields, perhaps the Chiefs take a look.
Spencer Rattler (Saints) and Stetson Bennett IV (Rams) elicited trade interest in the preseason.”
Among the names floating around the internet, Sanders has gotten plenty of attention, but Gabriel still looks like Cleveland’s most logical trade candidate. His injury timing raised eyebrows from the start. He was placed on injured reserve the morning of roster cutdown day, just a few days after throwing for a 157.9 QB rating with three touchdown passes in the Browns’ preseason win over the New England Patriots.
League rules kept Gabriel from practicing with the team in September, but the source of the injury has never sounded like a real long-term issue, and the Browns have treated him as if he’s still part of the picture. He worked as the clear QB3 behind Watson and Sanders in training camp, though Cleveland has also made it obvious that it values Green and wants to avoid exposing him to the waiver system.
If the Browns do decide to make a move, Gabriel would have a market. McCarthy, a former No. 10 overall pick, brought the Vikings back a fifth-round draft pick in the trade to the Giants.
Gabriel would likely bring less than that, maybe even just a pick swap, but the market for backup quarterbacks has clearly picked up. Fowler’s point was simple: teams are looking for options, and Gabriel is a more polished NFL passer than players like Nussmeier, Fields, Rattler and Bennett.
The financial piece matters too. Gabriel, a third-round pick, will cost Cleveland about $1 million more than Sanders over the rest of his rookie deal, assuming Sanders doesn’t hit the playing time incentives that would trigger a proven performance escalator in 2028.
So the Browns’ quarterback logjam isn’t going away quietly. They patched it together at the end of August, but they won’t be able to keep a healthy player on injured reserve much longer past Week 5.
In Other News...
Deshaun Watson Just Raised The Stakes For Clevelands Quarterback Plan
Deshaun Watson is still thinking long term, even as the Browns continue to sort through their quarterback situation. Speaking about his career outlook, Watson said he wants to play in the NFL as long as possible, pointing to Aaron Rodgers as the kind of veteran who has shown how far a quarterback can stretch his runway. He also said his motivation is to keep going until his body no longer allows it.
For Cleveland, that mindset matters because it keeps the conversation about its quarterback future from feeling like a short-term issue. Rodgers has already said this season will be his last, but Watson is taking the opposite view, and that kind of durability ambition can shape how a team plans around its quarterback room. The Browns may still be deciding how best to navigate the position, but Watson is making clear he sees himself as part of the leagues long game. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jeudy Reaches A Big Browns Crossroads On Thursday Night
Jerry Jeudys start to the 2026 season has been a quiet one in Cleveland, and the usage tells the story as much as the box scores do. Through three games, he has seen just five targets and turned them into two catches for four yards, a surprising level of involvement for a receiver the Browns still had every reason to imagine as a meaningful part of the passing game.
Instead, the early work has gone more heavily to rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, who have been involved far more often and have quickly carved out a bigger share of the offense. That leaves Jeudy at an important crossroads, trying to find a way back into a larger role before the gap gets wider, while the Browns have to decide whether his path forward is inside their offense or somewhere else entirely. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Enter Steelers Showdown With Major Lineup Questions Still Looming
After a needed win over the Carolina Panthers, the Browns are back home and turning quickly toward a divisional test against the Steelers on Oct. 1. The mood is better than it was a week ago, but the margin for error is still thin, and Clevelands latest injury report suggests the roster may not be settled by the time kickoff arrives.
Several key names remain in question, including offensive linemen Tytus Howard, Elgton Jenkins and Teven Jenkins, along with wide receiver Tylan Wallace, all of whom are dealing with injuries that could affect their availability. On the defensive side, Tyson Campbell and Grant Delpit are limited but expected to play, with the final status update set for Sept. 30, leaving the Browns with a little more waiting to do before they know exactly what theyre bringing into a matchup that tends to hinge on every available body. [Read more 🡒]