The Cleveland Browns set their quarterback depth chart on Tuesday, with head coach Kevin Stefanski confirming that third-round pick Dillon Gabriel will open the 2025 season as the primary backup to veteran starter Joe Flacco. Fifth-round selection Shedeur Sanders, who had been competing for the No. 2 role, will dress only as the emergency third quarterback under the league’s new game-day rules. Gabriel earned the promotion after a steadier preseason, while Sanders’ production tapered off. Sanders completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in his debut against Carolina, but managed just 14 yards on 3-of-6 passing in the finale versus the Rams. Cleveland plans to carry three healthy quarterbacks while Deshaun Watson continues rehabbing from multiple Achilles injuries and remains on the reserve/physically-unable-to-perform list. In a related development in Boulder, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders named Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter as the Buffaloes’ starter for the Aug. 29 opener against Georgia Tech. Salter replaces Shedeur Sanders, who left the program after being drafted by Cleveland, closing one quarterback competition as another resolves in the NFL.
Dillon Gabriel takes the backup QB role, while Shedeur starts as QB3 https://t.co/L97LGa95lM
Shedeur Sanders will serve as the Browns' emergency third quarterback, per HC Kevin Stefanski. https://t.co/Ft8pFIsL45
Browns HC Kevin Stefanski announces that Shedeur Sanders will be the emergency third-string QB this season. Dillon Gabriel has officially won the backup job behind Joe Flacco. Good move? 🤔 https://t.co/rwnBZsHAUl