Who Should I Start? Dillon Gabriel or Bryce Young

Saturday, August 30, 7:40 PM

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel has "gained a lot of trust from the coaching staff just in terms of how he worked, and we feel good about it," assistant general manager Glenn Cook said. After setting a college football record with 63 starts over six seasons divided among Central Florida, Oklahoma, and Oregon, the third-round pick impressed the Browns' coaches enough to beat out fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders and now-Las Vegas Raider Kenny Pickett for the backup QB job. The new role doesn't faze Gabriel, who told Zac Jackson of The Athletic: "It's not daunting. I have ultimate confidence in myself and who I am." Gabriel looked decent in two preseason games, going 25-for-37 for 272 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him starting at some point in 2025. The only real roadblock is 40-year-old starter Joe Flacco, a stopgap who has played in nine or fewer games in seven straight seasons.

Sunday, August 17, 11:40 AM

The Carolina Panthers and quarterback Bryce Young turned in a performance to forget in a 20-3 preseason loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday. Head coach Dave Canales had planned for Young and the starting offense to play three series, but he wound up pulling the third-year QB after a mere six plays. Young went 0-for-2, took a sack, and threw an interception to cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. that was negated by a defensive holding call. The former No. 1 overall pick gained two yards on a scramble, but that was it in terms of positive plays. Canales announced that the starters won't play the exhibition finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, meaning Young will wrap up his preseason 4-for-8 for 58 yards over two games. Heading into his age-24 campaign, Young is expected to take another step forward after showing progress last year. He tossed 12 touchdowns against three interceptions in his final eight games in 2024, leading to hope that the former Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama had figured it out at the NFL level. The Young-led Panthers will open the regular season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 7.