Sunday marks roster cutdown day in the NFL as teams have to get their preseason rosters of 90 players down to 53 ahead of the regular season. The day is filled with a ton of cuts, trades, and additional moves as teams try to keep as many assets in place rather than outright cutting players. When Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken told the media he wanted to keep all 4 quarterbacks if possible, it was great news for Dillon Gabriel.
While Dillon Gabriel's play showed he should be on the 53 man roster, the cuts often become a numbers game. The Browns named Deshaun Watson their starting quarterback; Shedeur Sanders was given a chance to beat him out, and the team just took Arkansas QB Taylen Green in the NFL Draft.
Keeping 4 quarterbacks is a bold decision, but on Sunday it became clear that everyone wouldn't be on the roster to start the season.
Dillon Gabriel lands on injured reserve after preseason finale
On Thursday Night, Dillon Gabriel was given the opportunity to start for the Cleveland Browns with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders sitting out. To say Gabriel made the most out of the opportunity is an understatement, as he finished the half, he played 12-15 for 186 yards and 3 touchdowns, leading the offense to 27 points.
Dillon Gabriel put up numbers in the first half
— Greg (@GregB_TX) August 28, 2026
- 12/15
- 186 pass yards
- 3 TDspic.twitter.com/wEjSRq6pq0
After the performance, it seemed possible that Dillon Gabriel could be on the move either to serve as a backup for another team or to compete for a starting job. Instead, it appears that Dillon Gabriel will be sticking with Cleveland, and will be out for a few weeks dealing with a back injury.
Among #Browns transactions: QB Dillon Gabriel on IR/to return with a back injury. And TE Joe Royer on Non-football Ilness/to return.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 30, 2026
According to the reporting, Dillon Gabriel hurt his back in the preseason finale, and the pain lingered into the weekend, leading to him getting an MRI. Apparently, the findings of the MRI were notable enough to land Gabriel on Injured Reserved for the time being.
The news is a setback for Dillon Gabriel, as he just showcased how well he can play and could've remained in the mix for the full-time backup quarterback role. For now, it looks like Deshaun Watson will be the Browns starter and that Sanders will get the first chance to replace him, but if the season ends up being a mess, Gabriel could come back and potentially start games at the end of the season.
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