Browns benching Flacco, will start Gabriel

The Cleveland Browns are benching veteran quarterback Joe Flacco and turning to rookie passer Dillon Gabriel, the team announced Wednesday.

Gabriel will make his first career start Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings in London.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski explained that he "felt this decision was best for the football team," according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.

Flacco will serve as his backup, while Shedeur Sanders will remain the third-string emergency quarterback.

Flacco said he didn't see the switch coming, according to Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports. However, he expressed full confidence in his replacement.

"He's into it, man," Flacco said, according to NFL reporter Andrew Siciliano. "He's ready to go."

Gabriel will become the third rookie quarterback to start this season following the Tennessee Titans' Cam Ward and the New York Giants' Jaxson Dart.

The Oregon product, who was drafted in the third round by the Browns, showed flashes of promise during the preseason, compiling a 67.6% completion rate, one touchdown, and one interception over two games.

The Browns' decision to change quarterbacks comes after the 40-year-old Flacco struggled through the first four games of the season. The veteran completed only 58.1% of his passes for two touchdowns and six interceptions while leading the team to a 1-3 record.

Gabriel's first test comes against a Vikings defense led by coordinator Brian Flores that ranks inside the top 10 in points allowed (9th) and yards allowed (7th).

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