Browns QB Dillon Gabriel is expected to survive roster cutdowns after putting on a strong performance in Cleveland’s preseason finale.
The Cleveland Browns need to make some difficult roster decisions on Sunday. Every NFL team needs to trim their roster down to 53 players by 4PM ET with the regular season just around the corner. One Browns player may have saved his roster spot after his incredible performance to end the preseason.
Browns QB Dillon Gabriel is expected to make the initial 53-man roster, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Gabriel exploded against the Patriots in the Browns’ final preseason game of the season. He went 12-of-15 for 186 passing yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Gabriel played well enough that some questioned whether he should be in QB1 consideration. Ultimately, the performance was not enough to put Gabriel in the starting conversation, but it appears to have saved his job.
Now the Browns are set to enter the season with three quarterbacks on the roster. Deshaun Watson will be the starter in Week 1 with Shedeur Sanders and Gabriel waiting in the wings.
Gabriel played in 10 games during the 2025 regular season and look pretty good in that audition. He logged 937 passing yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions last year with an additional 86 rushing yards on the ground. Unfortunately, Cleveland went 1-5 during Gabriel’s stretch as the team’s starting quarterback.
Looking ahead at the 2026 season, Gabriel does not have a clear path to the field. But he should not be too worried about being buried on the depth chart.
Realistically, the best thing that Gabriel can do is continuing creating good tape and putting in the work at practice. That positions him well to eventually become a backup quarterback on another team in the future.
But for now, Gabriel must bide his time on the bench.
The Browns begin the regular season with a road game against the Jaguars. That matchup kicks off at 1PM ET on September 13th from EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.
The Cleveland Browns need to make some difficult roster decisions on Sunday. Every NFL team needs to trim their roster down to 53 players by 4PM ET with the regular season just around the corner. One Browns player may have saved his roster spot after his incredible performance to end the preseason.
