Dillon Gabriel, a third-round pick of the Browns last year, started six games in 2025. Nick Cammett / Getty ImagesAug. 30, 2026 Updated 5:04 pm EDTThe Cleveland Browns are going forward with three quarterbacks on their Week 1 active roster, while placing Dillon Gabriel on injured reserve.Gabriel has a back injury and will miss at least the first four games of the season. The Browns posted their initial 53-man roster via the team’s social media accounts on Sunday and have an active quarterback room of starter Deshaun Watson, backup Shedeur Sanders and rookie Taylen Green.Gabriel spent the offseason as Cleveland’s No. 3 quarterback and was 12-of-15 for 186 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of Thursday’s preseason finale. Gabriel never factored into new coach Todd Monken’s offseason competition for the starting job between Watson and Sanders.The Browns kept four quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster in 2024, but Tyler Huntley was released a few days later.Last year, the Browns held a four-man quarterback competition through much of training camp but ended up trading Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders on the night before rosters were trimmed to 53. Joe Flacco started the first four games of the season and then was traded to Cincinnati in October after Gabriel became the starter.Gabriel started six games last season and threw seven touchdown passes and two interceptions with a 59.5 completion percentage.Aug 30, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms