The Cleveland Browns kept their momentum rolling with another comeback win in Week 7, holding off the Tennessee Titans to move to a surprising 5-2 on the regular season. That puts Cleveland tied at the top of the AFC North and sets up a huge Week 8 matchup with the 5-2 Pittsburgh Steelers, with a shot to reach the Week 9 bye in sole possession of first place in the division.
But the most notable Browns news came a day later, when the team made a quarterback roster move that changes the shape of the depth chart. Cleveland announced Monday afternoon that Dillon Gabriel has been activated off injured reserve, while tight end Carsen Ryan was waived.
"We've activated QB Dillon Gabriel from injured reserve and waived TE Carsen Ryan," The Browns announced Monday afternoon.
The move was expected, since Gabriel had been on Injured Reserve before the season started and was due to return to the roster. Now he is officially available if Cleveland needs him.
His return, though, leaves the Browns carrying four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Deshaun Watson remains the starter and does not appear to be in danger of losing the job. Shedeur Sanders has handled backup duties to open the season, while Taylen Green sits last on the depth chart and is likely fourth after Gabriel’s activation.
The Browns can keep all four, but that setup does not make much sense for long, especially with the NFL trade deadline about two weeks away. Watson and Green are not expected to be moved, which leaves Gabriel or Sanders as the likeliest names to watch.
For Todd Monken and Cleveland, a fourth quarterback is more clutter than help. So as the deadline approaches, Browns fans should expect both Sanders and Gabriel to keep coming up in trade chatter until November passes.
In Other News...
Titans Suddenly Have A Real RB2 Debate Behind Tyjae Spears
Tyjae Spears was supposed to have a firmer grip on the Titans No. 2 running back job, but a knee injury and uneven play have opened the door for someone else. Michael Carter has been getting more work in recent games, and his ability to handle all three downs has caught attention from coach Robert Saleh. In a backfield that already leans heavily on Tony Pollard, the battle for touches behind him has become a real subplot.
Carters recent production has outpaced both Spears and rookie Nick Singleton, and that alone is changing the conversation about how Tennessee wants to structure its backfield. If Spears cannot get back to form, the Titans may have to decide whether Carter is simply a short-term fill-in or the more reliable option as RB2. The picture could shift again if Pollard is traded, which would only make this situation more important to watch in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Trade Buzz Now Centers On One Name Fans Wont Like
The trade chatter around the AFC South has widened beyond the usual deadline-day noise, with multiple NFL teams reportedly inquiring about deals for Colts receiver Josh Downs and Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. The latest buzz has also linked Jacksonville to a possible pursuit of Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne, adding another layer to a division already full of roster questions as teams weigh whether to buy, sell or stay put.
League sources have also put Jermaine Johnson, Tony Pollard and Alontae Taylor in the conversation as potential trade candidates, which only adds to the sense that the market could move quickly if one deal gets enough traction. For the Titans, it is another reminder that the division around them is not standing still, and any shift at the deadline could alter both the short-term race and the longer view of how these rivals are built. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Loom In One Of The NFLs Biggest Trade Decisions
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the league has already seen one of its most consequential in-season swings, as the Colts moved guard Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks for future draft picks and sent defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the 49ers for a draft pick. Deals of that size have a way of resetting the market, and they tend to invite every team with a meaningful decision to the center of the conversation.
For Tennessee, that matters because Jeffery Simmons is part of the wider trade discussion now forming around some of the leagues biggest names. Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Brian Thomas and Budda Baker are also being floated as potential candidates, with possible landing spots already being mapped out, but the bigger question is how aggressive teams become once a move like Seattles changes the temperature. The Titans may not be the only club watching closely, but they are firmly among the teams who need to know where that market is heading before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]