American Football
Can rookie QB Dillon Gabriel jump-start the Cleveland Browns' offense in London?
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As expected, the Cleveland Browns have handed the reins of the offense to rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel ahead of their huge Week 5 London showdown against the Minnesota Vikings.
Gabriel, the first of two high-profile quarterbacks selected by the Browns in the 2025 NFL Draft, will succeed 40-year-old Joe Flacco, who struggled with turnovers through the first five games.
As London fans prepare to watch the rookie make his debut at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, we explore what Gabriel brings to Cleveland's offense.
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Gabriel's college career
Dillon Gabriel’s college career stretched across six seasons and three programs: UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon. By the time he was done, he had left a lasting mark on the record books, starting more games than any quarterback in history (63), piling up more total touchdowns than anyone before him (189), and matching Case Keenum for the most career passing scores.
His résumé is hard to argue with. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and a first-team FWAA All-American.
Now 24, only five games into his Browns' career, Gabriel gets his shot to lead Cleveland's offense.
Can Gabriel revive the Browns' aerial attack?
We shouldn't expect immediate fireworks. Most first-year quarterbacks struggle out of the gate, and really, can Gabriel be any worse than Flacco, who threw for six interceptions and only two touchdowns through four games?
The rookie is a proven dual-threat who throws with touch and poise. Don't be mistaken, he's no Lamar Jackson in terms of his athleticism, but he can escape pressure and pick up chunk yardage with his feet - and that's not something we could say about Flacco.
The blueprint for rookie quarterbacks typically involves limiting risks, relying on high-percentage throws, and allowing the running game to carry the load until they find their rhythm. It should be no different with Gabriel.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski backed his new signal-caller.
He also praised his work ethic and discussed how the time spent sitting and learning behind Flacco should help in his preparation.
Gabriel will be tasked with maximising the potential of wideout Jerry Jeudy. The 26-year-old has been a victim of Cleveland's aerial struggles, posting a season-high mark of only 66 yards in Week 1.
But Gabriel doesn't have to be a one-man show. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins has already established himself as a difference-maker and will be leaned on heavily in London and beyond.
What's at stake?
Cleveland sits at 1-3, already two games back from the Pittsburgh Steelers, and desperately needs to start piling up wins to keep their season alive.
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The stage is enormous, with an international spotlight and a prime-time kickoff, and all the while Gabriel knows that another high-profile rookie, Shedeur Sanders, is waiting in the wings to take his job.
How Gabriel responds to the moment could shape not only his grip on the starting job, but his trajectory for the next few years.
