No more Joe in Cleveland.
The Browns are shaking things up under center as they send former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco to the bench in favor of rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, according to multiple reports.
The ex-Oregon star has a challenging assignment for Sunday’s Week 5 game in London against the stout Vikings’ defense.
Fifth-round draft pick and fellow rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will not be moved up the depth chart, as he remains the third-string option with Flacco, 40, now the backup, per ESPN.
The Browns are making this change amid a 1-3 start including last week’s 34-10 smashing by the Lions where Flacco continued to struggle, completing just 47.1 percent of his passes with zero touchdowns and two interceptions.
Dillon Gabriel will start Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Getty Images
Flacco hasn’t looked great for the Browns either, averaging just 175 total passing yards over his last three games, among the lowest in the NFL.
He has 815 passing yards with two touchdown passes and six interceptions this season.
Joe Flacco is headed to the bench. APCleveland is now looking to the future in turning to Gabriel but it is not giving him a soft landing spot for his first career start, as Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is 7-1 against rookie quarterbacks dating back to his time with the Patriots, according to Vikings Territory.
While one rookie now gets his chance, Sanders continuing to be buried by the Browns is not exactly surprising considering the Browns compete in a usually competitive AFC North.
Dillon Gabriel starts for the Browns on Sunday against the Vikings. Getty Images
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Baltimore, which is also 1-3, is expected to be without former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson for at least a few weeks, while Joe Burrow is expected to be out at least through December as he battles turf toe.
Sanders might get a chance to play later in the season if things continue to go sideways for Cleveland, although, for now, he will continue operating as the scout-team quarterback.
