1 of 5 | Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel will make his first NFL start Sunday in London. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
The Cleveland Browns benched quarterback Joe Flacco and will start rookie Dillon Gabriel in Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings, the team announced Wednesday.
Flacco completed 58.1% of his throws for 815 yards, two scores and six interceptions through his first four starts this season. He led the Browns to a 1-3 record.
Flacco and the Browns totaled the third-fewest passing scores and second-most interceptions through their first four games of the season. The Browns also have the third-worst rushing attack in the NFL, and its offense scored the second-fewest points in the league.
Gabriel, who joined the Browns as a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, completed 3 of 4 passes for 19 yards and a score in two appearances this season.
Shedeur Sanders, a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, served as emergency third-string quarterback, but did not take a regular-season snap through four weeks. Bailey Zappe is the Browns’ practice squad quarterback.
An updated depth chart was not immediately available after the quarterback change.
The Browns and Vikings will play at 9:30 a.m. EDT Sunday in London.
