Browns optimistic Dillon Gabriel set to start Saturday

The Browns weigh Dillon Gabriel's hamstring status ahead of a likely start in the preseason against the Eagles.

Browns Optimistic Dillon Gabriel Set to Start Saturday

The Browns will evaluate Dillon Gabriel’s hamstring Saturday morning, but they are optimistic the rookie will start the preseason game against the Eagles, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports.

Gabriel strained his hamstring on Aug. 2 and did not return to full participation in practice until this week. The Browns have said that veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett and rookie Shedeur Sanders will not play this week. Pickett has not returned to team drills as he works back from a hamstring injury, and Sanders is day to day with an oblique injury after Wednesday’s joint practice with the Eagles. Flacco, a 17-year veteran, won’t play in the preseason. Sanders could return to practice next week and play in the preseason finale. Tyler Huntley, who joined the Browns less than two weeks ago, is the only other quarterback available to play this weekend.

Gabriel’s potential start places the spotlight on a rookie quarterback amid a thin depth chart for the Browns. A decision in the morning will shape how Cleveland approaches the game plan and practice reps. If Gabriel starts, the team signals confidence in his health and long-term development; if not, Huntley could assume a larger role and the Browns may lean more on veteran leadership behind center.

Beyond this weekend, the exchange signals how the organization weighs immediate needs against future potential. The preseason serves as a microcosm of the season to come, and the quarterback position is the clearest test of that balance for Cleveland.

Highlights

The outcome will shape how the Browns navigate quarterback depth in the coming weeks.