Dillon Gabriel is doing the one thing the Browns need, and Kevin Stefanski quietly said it himself after win over the Dolphins

Gabriel finished 13-of-18 passing for 116 yards with no touchdowns. The rookie quarterback was sacked twice but managed the game well in rainy, windy conditions — and that kind of steady play will keep him on the field. With how inconsistent the Browns’ offense has been overall, the last thing they can afford is self-inflicted wounds. Penalties and turnovers plagued the team early in the season, but those giveaways have disappeared with Gabriel under center.

Through three starts, Cleveland’s rookie quarterback is completing 60 percent of his passes for 546 yards and three touchdowns. The Browns still lack explosive weapons at wide receiver — even top target Jerry Jeudy is having a down year — but at some point, they’ll need to stretch the field more. That’s the next step for Gabriel to take. For now, though, he’s excelling at the most important part of playing quarterback — protecting the football — and that means he’s far from the biggest problem on this offense. That’s real progress for Cleveland.

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