Dillon Gabriel’s return to practice gave the Browns a small but important decision point this week, and head coach Todd Monken made it clear the plan is simple: get him back on the field, see where he stands physically, and sort out the roster math later.
Gabriel has been designated to return, which starts a three-day window for Cleveland to activate him to the 53-man roster or keep him on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Monken said the second-year quarterback will mostly work in scout-team situations while he ramps back up.
“Get him out there, practice, see where he’s at with his back, and get the reps that we can get,” Monken said, via Pro Football Talk. “A lot of that will be on the look squad, or it’ll be individual. But I look forward to seeing him back out there.”
If Cleveland does activate Gabriel, it would leave the Browns with four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Monken said that’s not something he’s worried about right now, pointing to the time still left before a final call has to be made.
“I don’t have to feel anything at this point. We still have three weeks.”
In Baltimore, the Cam Jurgens trade drew a strong response from both the front office and the locker room. Ravens GM Eric DeCosta issued a statement welcoming the two-time Pro Bowl center and calling him a player the organization has tracked for a long time.
“ We are excited to acquire a two-time Pro Bowl center, Cam Jurgens, from the Eagles in a trade. Cam is a player we have long admired going all the way back to the draft process.
He’s a young foundational piece along our offensive line - a great scheme and cultural fit who will contribute quickly in Baltimore. We are confident that Cam will significantly impact our team and community.”
Running back Derrick Henry said the move landed well inside the locker room, describing it as proof that the team is aligned from top to bottom.
“upstairs (front office) is locked in just as much as players are locked in.”
And in Pittsburgh, Aaron Rodgers had plenty of praise for Darnell Washington, who has logged a career-high offensive snap percentage through four weeks. Rodgers pointed to the tight end’s daily habits, his preparation, and the way he handled getting paid with a long-term extension.
“I love everything Darnell’s about, his approach, the way he practices,” Rodgers said, via Nick Farabaugh. “He leads by example, but he does it right all the time and wants to be dialed in, and his preparation approach has been fantastic.
And you always wonder when you pay a guy, how are they gonna respond? And he responded how a guy who deserves another contract after this, like you’d want him to, where they lock in even more.
And that’s the sign of a good leader, whether or not he’s a vocal guy, he’s not.”
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Aaron Rodgers Just Spotlighted A Rising Steelers Weapon
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Rodgers pointed to Washingtons size and physical tools as part of what makes him such a difficult piece to deal with, but he was just as struck by the way the young tight end has handled his rising status. After Washingtons recent extension, the expectation might have been for a player to relax a bit, yet his continued approach has only reinforced why the Steelers seem increasingly comfortable leaning on him in key spots. [Read more 🡒]