Insider names 'primary reasons' Browns benched Joe Flacco for Dillon Gabriel

The Cleveland Browns (1-3) confirmed on Wednesday that they will start rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel over struggling veteran Joe Flacco for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings (2-2). 

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler shared on Wednesday why the Browns felt now was the right time to make the move to Gabriel. They previously planned for the 2025 third-round draft pick to serve as a backup through most of the fall. 

How Dillon Gabriel may be an upgrade for Browns

"Mobility and decision-making are the primary reasons that the Browns named Gabriel the starter for Week 5 and sent Flacco to the bench," Fowler explained. "The Browns like how Gabriel operates (head coach) Kevin Stefanski's play-action-heavy offense. And they have had problems with the offensive line due to injuries. Gabriel's ability to move better than Flacco will help. The Browns have a stout defense and need to limit turnovers offensively, which Flacco (six interceptions) struggled to do." 

Flacco committed a league-high eight turnovers as he lost three of four September starts. According to Pro Football Reference, only seven quarterbacks took more sacks than Flacco (nine) over the season's first four weeks. 

Meanwhile, ESPN stats show that the Browns ended Week 4 ranked 31st in the league in scoring (14 points per game). To compare, Cleveland's defense entered Wednesday allowing a league-low 222.5 yards per contest. 

"Cleveland is really high on rookie playmakers (running back) Quinshon Judkins, (tight end) Harold Fannin Jr. and (wide receiver) Isaiah Bond," Fowler continued. "This is a chance for the rookies to coalesce together on offense."

Were people within Browns split on quarterback change?

A Tuesday report indicated that the previously mentioned Stefanski wanted to stick with Flacco as the Browns' starter through at least the Week 5 game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. However, Browns general manager Andrew Berry and team owner Jimmy Haslam had allegedly seen enough of the 40-year-old. 

For Wednesday's article, ESPN's Dan Graziano suggested opinions within the Browns regarding the quarterback situation were split. 

"The Browns debated whether to switch from Joe Flacco to Dillon Gabriel this week, in part because it's an odd week with the game against the Vikings in London," Graziano wrote. 

As of late Wednesday morning, ESPN BET had the Gabriel-led Browns as 3.5-underdogs against the Vikings. 

"From the second he's been here, he's been working very hard," Stefanski said about Gabriel while speaking with reporters on Wednesday morning, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. "He's a very intelligent young man. He's done a nice job throughout practice, and this whole season he's been learning how to get yourself ready and understand the rhythm of an NFL week and what that looks like as a backup. Obviously, now feel like he's ready to go as a starter."

Flacco will be Gabriel's primary backup in London over 2025 fifth-round draft pick and QB3 Shedeur Sanders.