The Cleveland Browns appeared to say lots relating to their emotions about rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders after they repeatedly listed Gabriel above Sanders on unofficial depth charts all through August.
Sanders performed nicely in Cleveland’s preseason opener on the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8 when Gabriel was recovering from a hamstring harm. Gabriel then acquired his alternative to shine within the Aug. 16 preseason matchup on the Philadelphia Eagles when Sanders was coping with an indirect problem.
For a bit printed on Thursday, Jason Lloyd of The Athletic prompt that the stats from these contests present “the Browns belief Gabriel greater than they do Sanders” heading into their Week 1 matchup in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.
“The Browns used pre-snap movement 45 % of the time with Gabriel in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles,” Lloyd wrote. “They used it 31 % of the time in Sanders’ recreation in opposition to the Carolina Panthers, in response to TruMedia information. On third downs, that elevated to 63 % for Gabriel and plummeted to 18 % for Sanders.”
The Browns chosen Gabriel within the third spherical of this yr’s draft earlier than they made a commerce to take a flier on Sanders at total choose No. 144. In opposition to the Panthers, Sanders accomplished 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. To match, Gabriel linked on 13-of-18 passes for 143 yards with a pick-six in opposition to the Eagles. He was additionally credited with a misplaced fumble.
“Gabriel was three of 4 on [tight-window throws] in opposition to the Eagles, in response to NextGen Stats, and two of these turned third downs into first downs,” Lloyd added. “Sanders was zero for 4 on tight-window throws in opposition to the Panthers.”
It is value noting that none of this issues as of publication. Veteran Joe Flacco will function Cleveland’s Week 1 starter, and the Browns appear critical about having Flacco, Gabriel, Sanders and backup Kenny Pickett on the energetic roster via a minimum of a portion of the upcoming season. The commerce deadline will arrive on Nov. 4.
Lloyd talked about that “a concern that Sanders might develop elsewhere” is a motive the Browns are holding onto the previous Colorado star after they desire Gabriel. As of now, Sanders is on observe to proceed his improvement whereas working within the Browns movie room as an unused quarterback all through the autumn.
