Browns put Dillon Gabriel on IR and keep three quarterbacks

Gabriel spent the offseason as Cleveland's No. 3 quarterback.

Gabriel never factored into Todd Monken's offseason competition for the starting job between Watson and Sanders.

The Browns kept four quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster in 2024.

Last year Cleveland traded Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders on the night before rosters had to be trimmed to 53.

Joe Flacco started the first four games of the 2025 season.

Green, a sixth-round pick, played in the second half of Thursday's game, his first preseason action.

The Browns sat Watson, previously named the Week 1 starter, and backup Sanders after extensive work in camp and the first two preseason games.

Gabriel will not count against the 53-player limit.

The other 31 teams can sign players waived by the Browns before Cleveland can add them to the practice squad.

To set the 53, the Browns had 21 moves after already terminating four contracts and waiving 12 players.

Across three preseason games Floriea scored three touchdowns, four if one had not been overturned on replay.

The Browns hope to sign Floriea to the practice squad if he clears waivers.

The Browns kick off the regular season in two weeks on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The roster carries six receivers and three tight ends.

Cleveland drafted Carsen Ryan in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Browns will look to construct a 16-man practice squad.

The move was first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The back injury had not been a public concern entering the roster deadline.

Gabriel led the Browns to points on all five of his full possessions and finished with a 157.9 passer rating.

The Browns beat New England 37-13.

Gabriel finished with a 157.9 passer rating.

Gabriel's IR move clears the way for Green to remain on the active roster as Cleveland's third quarterback.

Monken praised Gabriel's command of the offense despite being buried behind Watson and Sanders through much of camp.

The Browns risked losing Green if they waived him intending to sign him to the practice squad.

Green escaped pressure in his own end zone and broke loose for a 30-yard gain.

Once Gabriel is healthy and eligible to return, the Browns will again have four quarterbacks under team control.

Gabriel joins Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders as quarterbacks on Cleveland's roster.

Cleveland started three quarterbacks last season and has had seven different starting quarterbacks since the start of 2024.

Gabriel was one of the three quarterbacks who started a game for the Browns in 2025.

The 2025 third-round pick went 1-5 as a starter.

Gabriel's final start came in Week 11, when he suffered a concussion against the Ravens.

Sanders started the final seven games for the Browns, going 3-4.

NBC Sports said Sunday's earlier report that Gabriel would make the 53-man roster was incorrect, but he has not been waived.