Whispers 'really starting to get louder' regarding Browns making huge change

For better or for worse, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is starting 40-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco for this Sunday's home game against the 2-0 Green Bay Packers. 

However, Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot suggested on the latest edition of the "Orange and Brown Talk Podcast" that the 0-2 club could turn to rookie and third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel sooner than some thought. 

Is Joe Flacco facing a must-win game?

"I’m starting to really think that if Joe doesn’t play well this game, that could possibly be it for him," Cabot said about the upcoming Browns-Packers clash. "I wouldn’t be surprised. The drum beat is really starting to get louder for Dillon Gabriel. ... And if this offense can’t get untracked this week, why not take a look at Dillon?"

According to the StatMuse website, only Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins have thus far committed more turnovers (five) than Flacco (four) this season. That's particularly alarming regarding Tagovailoa considering he made his third start of the campaign on Thursday night. 

ESPN stats show that the Browns began Friday tied for 27th in the league in scoring (16.5 points per game). Meanwhile, Cleveland's defense allowed the fewest yards per game (191.5) over the season's first two weeks. 

Could Dillon Gabriel see action vs. Green Bay Packers?

As recently as Thursday, it was thought that Gabriel didn't have much of a chance to get the nod for the Browns' Week 4 matchup at the Detroit Lions as long as Flacco was healthy. It now sounds like Gabriel could see meaningful action against Green Bay if the Cleveland offense fails to impress in the first half of this Sunday's game against a Packers defense that has looked downright menacing with star pass-rusher Micah Parsons in the lineup.

As of Friday afternoon, ESPN BET had the Browns as 7.5-point home underdogs against the Packers. 

"This week is the first week I’m like, 'I don’t know, it could be a real possibility,'" Browns beat reporter Ashley Bastock added during the podcast about the club putting Gabriel atop the depth chart. "I think this is the first real possibility where you can say maybe they would consider turning it over to Dillon Gabriel."

One would think such a move would also result in fellow rookie and fifth-round draft pick Shedeur Sanders serving as Gabriel's primary backup unless Cleveland coaches have determined that Sanders isn't ready to face a live defense in a meaningful game as even a temporary fill-in.