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Cleveland Browns caters to Rookie Quarterback Dillon Gabriel this week against Minnesota Vikings in London as head coach Kevin Stefanski shakes things already at the position after a 1-3 start.
It is a step that the 40-year-old veteran seemed to be blindsid.
“Listen, I think I said it on Sunday, anytime you are in this league, everyone is always evaluated,” Flacco said via Pro Football Talk. “The quarterback job is to help your team win football matches. So I don’t know if I foresaw what is coming, but listen, me and Kevin can have a good conversation. It’s not like something that was super far or pulled out like that. But came to that point, had a good conversation about it and that’s what it is.”
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Cleveland Browns Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws the ball during warm -ups before the game against Green Bay Packers at Huntington Bank Field on September 21, 2025. (Scott Galvin/Imag images)
Flacco moves to QB2 and backups Gabriel in London, while the Shedeur Sanders, the fellow rookie of Gabriel, stays third on the depth card.
While all speech was on the two rookies taken in the 2025 NFL draft, especially after Sanders was taken in the fifth round in a shocking way, Stefanski made it clear in training camp that Flacco was the starter after going through practice.
Skyeseur Sanders gets quiet, pantomimes answer when asked about Brown’s third-string quarterback role
But through four games this season, Flacco has thrown only two touchdowns into six captures, which has only completed 58.1% of its passports in the process. As a result, Browns’ violation is on average only 14 points per Match.
Now it’s not what Flacco had in mind to serve as a backup, but he’s ready to help Gabriel in any way as possible.
Cleveland Browns Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) falls back to pass over the second half against Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 14, 2025. (Peter Casey/Imag- Pictures)
“I think the best way to help him is to continue working with a good mindset every day and give the positive energy and see what he needs at his end,” Flacco explained. “Listen, he’s in it, man. He’s ready to go. I’m sure he’s super excited about this opportunity. You can tell that he’s seriously just taking it by the way he is studying and his intention in the meeting rooms and in the field of practice.”
Flacco went with Browns this season, the same team that he miraculously went to the 2023 play game, which got him comeback Player of the Year Award. He is a Super Bowl winner in AFC North, though with Baltimore Ravens, where he spent most of his career.
Given his pedigree, Flacco is disappointed with how he is performed to start the season despite being ready if necessary in a backup role.
Joe Flacco from Cleveland Browns seems to be throwing the ball against Green Bay Packers at Huntington Bank Field on September 21, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
“I think every situation is unique,” he said. “And I think you’re getting emotional over it, so it’s hard to currently draw on these experiences.”
Flacco will be on the sidelines and watch, while Gabriel takes on the Vikings who fell to Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, Ireland in week 4, 24-21.
