The Browns’ quarterback room has gone from thin to crowded, and Dillon Gabriel’s return from injured reserve adds another layer to a situation Cleveland now has 21 days to sort out.
Gabriel was activated yesterday, putting the Browns on the clock to decide what comes next with the roster. For Deshaun Watson, though, the move doesn’t sound like a source of tension at all.
“Dillon, he’s been around this whole time. He’s been in every meeting.
He’s been traveling with us. He’s been on the practice field with us.
He’s been communicating, giving suggestions within the offense and different reads,” Watson said about Gabriel returning from injury.
He added, “So DG, man, he’s a great teammate, a better person. It’s good to have him back on the field and see that he’s healthy. All of us in that room, we’re one big group, got one goal and that’s ultimately to win and be successful.”
Those comments reflect a quarterback room that appears fully aligned with Todd Monken’s culture and locked in on the same objective. Watson remains the starter, Shedeur Sanders is backing him up, and Gabriel is now back in the mix with a chance to compete for that backup spot if Cleveland carries him on the active roster.
Even while on injured reserve, Gabriel has been part of the weekly offense installation and has earned praise for his grasp of Monken’s system. If he doesn’t beat out Sanders for the No. 2 job, the Browns could still keep him as the emergency third quarterback on game days.
That matters because Taylen Green has filled that emergency role. If Gabriel takes that spot, Cleveland could move Green onto the roster and use him as a gadget option and in short-yardage situations.
Watson’s standing in the locker room also looks solid right now. The Browns have rallied around him during three straight game-winning drives, and the team’s three-game winning streak has come with a noticeable sense of togetherness.
Gabriel now has 21 days of practice before the Browns must decide whether to add him to the roster or leave him on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Either way, he has already shown he can be a useful piece in the quarterback room without even taking the field.
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