Moments after the Cleveland Browns completed their 32-13 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, head coach Kevin Stefanski affirmed his support for rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
“When you lose like this, you have to look at everything,” Stefanski said. “Every position. Everything I’m doing. Just … it’s frustrating for where we are as a team. So, every position you have to look at.
“But let me say that, with a young quarterback, you know, you understand that there’s going to be ups and downs.”
The Browns dropped to 2-6 overall and 1-3 since Gabriel became the team’s starter in Week 5 as the 24-year-old left-hander completed 21 of 35 passes for 156 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions against the Patriots to finish with a 65.9 passer rating. Perhaps most disturbing about Sunday’s effort: Gabriel threw just two passes in top receiver Jerry Jeudy’s direction and neither was completed.
“We need to do a better job,” Stefanski said. “I need to do a better job. Jerry needs to get the football. We have to do a better job. Variety of reasons (why he didn’t catch any), but it doesn’t matter. We’ve got to get him the ball.”
In four starts and two relief appearances this season, Gabriel has connected on 85 of 142 passes (59.9%) for 702 yards, five scores and two interceptions.
Gabriel and the Browns have a bye week before traveling to face the New York Jets (1-7) in Week 10.
“I just want to make the point that we have to be better in every area,” Stefanski said. “And we’ll look at everything we do, including how we’re putting these guys in position to succeed.
“When I say look at every position, are we doing enough with the quarterback position? Do we need to do a better job? And I think — I know — the answer is yes.”
If Stefanski decides to make a change before facing the Jets, he has his choice of lightly used veteran Bailey Zappe, who has played just one game since 2023, or rookie Shedeur Sanders, who has yet to play in a regular-season game and was inactive Sunday with a back issue.
