Joe Flacco reacted to Browns benching him in favor of Dillon Gabriel

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The Cleveland Browns are turning to rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel this week in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings in London, as head coach Kevin Stefanski shakes issues up already on the place following a 1-3 begin.

It’s a transfer that the 40-year-old veteran appeared blindsided by.

"Hear, I feel I mentioned it on Sunday, anytime you’re on this league, all people’s at all times getting evaluated," Flacco mentioned, through Professional Soccer Speak. "The job of the quarterback is to assist your workforce win soccer video games. So, I don’t know if I foresaw it coming, however hear, me and Kevin can have a superb dialog. It’s not like something that was tremendous lengthy or drawn out like that. However, acquired to the purpose, had a superb dialog about it, and it's what it's."

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws the ball throughout heat ups earlier than the sport in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers at Huntington Financial institution Area on Sept. 21, 2025. (Scott Galvin/Imagn Photographs)

Flacco will transfer to QB2, backing up Gabriel in London, whereas Shedeur Sanders, the man rookie of Gabriel, stays third on the depth chart.

Whereas all discuss was on the 2 rookies taken within the 2025 NFL Draft, particularly after Sanders was taken within the fifth spherical in surprising vogue, Stefanski made it clear in coaching camp that Flacco was the starter after going by way of practices.

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However by way of 4 video games this season, Flacco has thrown simply two touchdowns to 6 interceptions, finishing solely 58.1% of his passes within the course of. Because of this, the Browns’ offense is averaging simply 14 factors per recreation.

Now, serving as a backup isn’t what Flacco had in thoughts, however he’s prepared to assist Gabriel in any method doable.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) drops again to cross in the course of the second half in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Financial institution Stadium on Sept. 14, 2025. (Peter Casey/Imagn Photographs)

"I feel one of the best ways to assist him is proceed to return to work with a superb mindset daily and supply that constructive power and see what he wants on his finish," Flacco defined. "Hear, he’s into it, man. He’s able to go. I’m positive he’s tremendous enthusiastic about this chance. You possibly can inform he takes it severely simply by the best way he research and his intent within the assembly rooms and on the apply area."

Flacco rejoined the Browns this season, the identical workforce he miraculously took to the 2023 playoffs which earned him the Comeback Participant of the Yr award. He’s a Tremendous Bowl winner within the AFC North, although with the Baltimore Ravens, the place he spent most of his profession.

Given his pedigree, Flacco is disenchanted in how he’s carried out to begin the season regardless of being prepared if vital in a backup function.

Joe Flacco of the Cleveland Browns seems to throw the ball in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers at Huntington Financial institution Area on Sept. 21, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jason Miller/Getty Photographs)

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"I feel each state of affairs is exclusive," he mentioned. "And I feel you do get emotional about it, so it’s robust to, within the second, draw on these experiences."