Joe Flacco opens up on Browns benching for Dillon Gabriel

Charlie Baduini

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Joe Flacco opens up on Browns benching for Dillon Gabriel image

After a 1-3 start and abysmal offensive outputs, the Cleveland Browns are making a quarterback change.

Veteran Joe Flacco heads to the bench, while 24-year-old rookie Dillon Gabriel will get his first start on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings in London, England.

Flacco was initially signed this past offseason to be the Browns' starting quarterback, but through four games, the 40-year-old has not performed well enough. His completion percentage sits below 60% and he has three times as many interceptions as touchdowns.

Joe Flacco Reacts to Benching for Dillon Gabriel

The veteran quarterback spoke to the media after getting benched for the former Oregon Duck and opened up about how it went down.

"I don’t know if I foresaw it coming, but listen, me and Kevin (Stefanski) can have a good conversation. It’s not like anything that was super long or drawn out like that. But, got to the point, had a good conversation about it, and it is what it is," Flacco said.

While the Browns were hoping Flacco could recapture the spark that helped Cleveland make the playoffs in 2023, he was unable to replicate that play and struggled mightily throughout September.

He'll now serve as the backup quarterback behind Gabriel, with Shedeur Sander still serving emergency third-string quarterback duties.

Flacco also spoke about how he can help Gabriel as he starts his first-ever professional football game.

"I think the best way to help him is continue to come to work with a good mindset every day and provide that positive energy and see what he needs on his end. Listen, he’s into it, man. He’s ready to go. I’m sure he’s super excited about this opportunity. You can tell he takes it seriously just by the way he studies and his intent in the meeting rooms and on the practice field."

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Charlie Baduini

Charlie Baduini is a freelance NBA writer with The Sporting News. He is a content editor and writer with a wide variety of sports reporting experience in live broadcasting and print media.