Dillon Gabriel Starts for Browns in Preseason Win Over Eagles

The Cleveland Browns used Dillon Gabriel as their starter in the second preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, stepping in because Shedeur Sanders was sidelined by an oblique injury and Kenny Pickett was limited by a hamstring issue. Gabriel completed 13 of 18 passes for 143 yards in the first half, directing a trio of scoring drives before being relieved, and the Browns earned a 22-13 victory as he helped steady the offense despite a late interception and a botched exchange. The performance came amid a broader quarterback competition that also includes veteran Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Sanders, all vying for the Week 1 job.

Gabriel’s outing represented a mix of solid production and learning moments. He led a 13-play, 63-yard opening drive that ended in a touchdown and showed decisiveness on several third-down conversions. A miscue near the end of the half—an interception returned for a touchdown—stayed on the ledger, and a botched handoff resulted in a lost fumble. Still, the rookie showed progression from practice reps earlier in the week, delivering accurate passes and maintaining rhythm against a top-tier opponent. After the game, coach Kevin Stefanski noted...