Dillon Gabriel is officially back on the practice field for the Cleveland Browns. That’s a huge step for the young quarterback, who has been sidelined on injured reserve with a nasty back issue since late August. But here’s the wild part: the Browns aren’t exactly rushing to get him back onto their active 53-man roster, and that’s got some folks scratching their heads.
Cleveland’s Chill Stance on Gabriel’s Comeback
Browns coach Todd Monken laid out the plan in his press conference, and it sounds like they are playing this super cool. “Get him out there, practice, see where he’s at with his back, and get the reps that we can get,” Monken said, making it clear they are just feeling things out right now. He added that a lot of those reps will be on the look squad or in individual drills. The coach finished by saying, “But I look forward to seeing him back out there,” which, honestly, sounds like a very measured enthusiasm. The team has a full three weeks to evaluate Gabriel and “see where we’re at” before they have to make a roster move. That’s a long leash, isn’t it?
A Wild QB Room and a Rookie’s Past
So why the lack of urgency from Cleveland? Well, their quarterback room is already a bit crowded. They’ve got starter Deshaun Watson, backup Shedeur Sanders, and rookie Taylen Green all on the active roster right now. When Monken was asked about potentially carrying *four* quarterbacks, his response was just as calm: “I don’t have to feel anything at this point. We still have three weeks.” It seems they are perfectly happy to let the clock run down and see how Gabriel performs without immediate pressure. Gabriel, in his rookie year last season, made 10 total appearances and started six games. He completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 937 yards, throwing seven touchdowns against just two interceptions. Those numbers show he has potential, so you’d think they’d want him back in the mix faster.
The next three weeks are going to be crucial for Dillon Gabriel. Will he show enough to convince the Browns he belongs back on the active roster? Or will the team decide their current trio is enough, leaving Gabriel to continue his return to form on the practice squad? Keep an eye on Cleveland’s moves.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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