Browns keep Dillon Gabriel as starter after bye, review offense

The Cleveland Browns will keep rookie Dillon Gabriel as their starting quarterback when play resumes after the bye week, coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday, even as the team uses the break to review the offense following a 32-13 loss at New England that dropped Cleveland to 2-6. Backup rookie Shedeur Sanders was inactive for the Patriots game with back tightness, and the team elevated Bailey Zappe from the practice squad to serve as the emergency backup.

Gabriel completed 21 of 35 passes for 156 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss, which included a safety assessed after an intentional grounding penalty. The offense again sputtered, producing just 13 points and leaving top receiver Jerry Jeudy largely off the stat sheet. Stefanski said the club will “look at all of it” during the bye, from personnel alignments by position to coaching and playcalling, and suggested a range of changes could be considered, including possibly entrusting offensive playcalling to coordinator Tommy Rees.

“I just want to make the point that we just have to be better in every area,” Stefanski said. “We’ll look at everything we do, including how we’re putting these guys in position to...