Latest news with #Kevin Stefanski
Reuters
5 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Shedeur Sanders hurt, Dillon Gabriel to start vs. Eagles if healthy
August 13 - By Field Level Media Cleveland plans to start another rookie quarterback when the Browns visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday afternoon. If third-round pick Dillon Gabriel's hamstring holds up through joint practices with the Eagles this week, he'll take his turn as Cleveland's QB1 following a strong debut from fifth-round quarterback Shedeur Sanders last week. "The plan was always to give both of those guys starts in the preseason, so we'll see how it shakes out," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said on Wednesday, adding Gabriel had to clear hurdles with a sore hamstring the next two days if he wants to take the field first this weekend. Stefanski made the comments before the team practiced on Wednesday, and prior to what could be an obstacle to Sanders building on his first outing and claiming a significant role. Sanders halted participation in throwing drills and appeared to be injured in Wednesday's joint practice with the Eagles, further complicating matters for Stefanski. Kenny Pickett, acquired from the Eagles in an offseason trade, is not available for 11-on-11 work because of a hamstring injury. There's only one quarterback on the roster who hasn't been sent to the training tent this summer. Cleveland hasn't committed to playing Joe Flacco, the purported No. 1 QB on the depth chart, in preseason games to preserve the 40-year-old's health. Gabriel was selected 94th overall in the 2025 draft after putting up big numbers at three college stops: UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon. Still on the board 50 picks later, the Browns chose Sanders to end a well-publicized draft weekend crash from projections of a top-50 draft rating. Gabriel said he won't put too much in the opportunity if he starts against the reigning Super Bowl champions. "I try to just stay in the moment. I'll look forward to that moment once it comes and be right where my feet are," Gabriel said. "The best competitors know how to stay present and be themselves by competing at a high level one play at a time." Sanders received high marks from Stefanski after the Browns' coaching staff reviewed the film of his two-TD showing in last Friday's win over the Carolina Panthers. "Certainly, for a quarterback, that next step is getting in the game settings and taking the practice field to the game. And I thought that's what we saw by and large from Shedeur (Sanders)," Stefanski said. "That's what we saw by and large from our offense was really taking those things that we're homing in on, on the practice field and then showing them in the games, and it goes back to the previous point where we want to vary our offense."
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Browns WR Jamari Thrash tabbed as biggest offseason surprise
The Cleveland Browns opted not to address the wide receiver room on their roster, putting a ton of expectations on Pro Bowler Jerry Jeudy and now third-year wide receiver Cedric Tillman. However, 2024 fifth round pick Jamari Thrash is getting some buzz heading into the season after his first full NFL offseason. ESPN put together an article of every team's biggest surprise this offseason, and ESPN Cleveland's Daniel Oyefusi tabbed the former Louisville wideout as that candidate for the Browns. Here is what Oyefusi had to say on what he saw from Thrash through minicamps and OTAs: Advertisement "A 2024 fifth-round pick who caught three passes as a rookie, Thrash took advantage of opportunities in an unproven receiver room and established himself as a reliable option for all the Browns' quarterbacks." Oyefusi then went on to add quotes from head coach Kevin Stefanski on the offseason that Thrash had entering his second season. Needless to say, the head coach is impressed with what he has saw out out his young receiver: "He's had a really strong spring... He is here all the time working on his body. Very intelligent player, can line up in multiple positions which I think is valuable. And then he showed up, he's caught the ball well and you know the quarterbacks like how he gets open. He finds a way to get open versus zone, versus man." While the Browns signed Diontae Johnson to a one-year deal with no guaranteed money, the roadblocks for Thrash to find the field this season are non-existent. The room is shallow, and there is a pathway for Thrash to become the third wide receiver on this football team. Advertisement Now we will see if Thrash can carry that momentum into training camp and then into the season. This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns WR Jamari Thrash tabbed as biggest offseason surprise
