With the Browns' initial 53-man roster set, they also have in place who will serve as the backup quarterback behind Joe Flacco.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Aug. 26 that Dillon Gabriel will serve as the backup quarterback.
"I think you factor in everything, truly. You look at it from a bunch of different angles," Stefanski said on the decision. "We made the decision and feel comfortable with Dillon (Gabriel) serving that role."
Over the course of training camp, joint practices and the preseason, Gabriel demonstrated his ability to move the offense efficiently down the field and operate in the pocket. In his first preseason start against the Eagles, Gabriel moved the Browns meticulously down the field on the opening drive, completing 4-of-4 passes and converting three third-downs attempts. He then handed the ball off to RB Ahmani Marshall, who found the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown run to put the Browns on the board first.
Gabriel converted six consecutive third-down situations, extending drives to move the Browns down the field and into scoring position. And then he threw an interception, which was returned 75 yards for the pick six. Gabriel played the entire first half against the Eagles, completing 13 of 18 passes for 143 yards and one interception.
Then in the final preseason game against the Rams, Gabriel took the field early in the second quarter and led the Browns to two scoring drives. His first drive gained 70 yards over 15 plays and saw the Browns hold the ball for 6:25, their longest drive of the game. He led the offense to the Rams 10-yard line before two passes fell incomplete, leading to a 28-yard field goal.
Gabriel then ran a two-minute drill with 1:55 left in the first half. Gabriel led the Browns from their own 14-yard line into the Rams' end zone. He passed for 86 yards during the drive, completing 9-of-11 passes and found WR Gage Larvadain for a 3-yard touchdown. He finished his second game completing 12-of-19 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown.
While his performances in the two preseason games played an important factor in the decision, the Browns' coaching staff also evaluated all of the quarterbacks' play in practice and the meeting rooms.
Even as Gabriel sustained a hamstring injury and worked his way through the rehab process to return to individual drills, 7-on-7 and then to team drills – ultimately preparing him to start the second week of the preseason – the coaching staff noted his process of how he approached his preparation.
"It's such an all-encompassing evaluation, everything the guys did in the game was important," Stefanski said. "We also saw a lot of them out here in practice and how they are at their craft. And he is certainly somebody that we think is getting better and better."
Check out the top shots from Day 18 of 2025 Browns Training Camp as players got to work with drills, workouts and team prep at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Safety Damontae Kazee (23) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Kicker Andre Szmyt (47) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Stephen Bravo-Brown during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Assistant Defensive Line Coach Adam Morris during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (81) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Quarterback Coach Bill Musgrave during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Offensive tackle KT Leveston (72) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Kicker Andre Szmyt (47) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (81) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Offensive guard Teven Jenkins (74) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Bill Willis Diversity Fellow Michael Bearden during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Offensive tackle KT Leveston (72) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (81) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (81) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Offensive tackle KT Leveston (72) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Offensive Line Coach Mike Bloomgren during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Offensive Line Coach Mike Bloomgren during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Safety Donovan McMillon (31) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (71) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Defensive lineman Adin Huntington (66) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (28) during Day 18 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 26, 2025.
