The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback situation remains one of the NFL’s hottest talking points as the team approaches a pivotal stretch heading into their bye week. Rookie Dillon Gabriel has struggled to find his footing through four starts, fueling growing calls from fans and analysts for fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders to take over in Week 10.

But head coach Kevin Stefanski isn’t ready to make a switch, and a former Browns head coach believes he’s making the right call.

Former Browns Coach Supports Kevin Stefanski’s Decision

Gabriel’s early numbers paint a challenging picture. Through four starts, he has led the Browns to a 1-3 record, with the lone victory coming in a 31-6 win over the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 19, a game shaped by four turnovers by the Dolphins.

PFSN’s QB Impact metric gave Gabriel a QB Impact Score of 52.4, which earned him a grade of F and a season rank of 35th overall. According to the same source, his overall rank since 2000 sits at 893d. Through five games, three of which he started, Gabriel has completed 85 of 142 pass attempts, resulting in a 59.9% completion rate.

Despite those struggles, former Browns head coach Eric Mangini believes Cleveland should stay the course and give Gabriel more time.

“Just because people disagree where he (Sanders) got drafted doesn’t mean that he’s lighting it up at practice, in the meetings, or any of those things,” he said on FS1. “And it doesn’t mean he’s not gonna get an opportunity.

“But when you move off of a quarterback, you are moving on for the rest of the season. So, you wanna be judicious on when you make that decision and not rush it because of the media thing.”

What’s interesting, however, is that Stefanski has refused to entertain the possibility of Sanders starting a game or any questions about him, fueling speculation that he simply doesn’t favor the rookie, an accusation echoed recently by two-time Super Bowl champion LeSean McCoy.

Those claims, however, appear to be just noise. Stefanski’s stance aligns with his desire to give Gabriel an extended opportunity before pulling the plug. Cleveland recently traded veteran Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals before naming Gabriel the starter and elevating Sanders to QB2.

While Sanders was inactive against the New England Patriots, fans and media continue calling for him to take the field. Stefanski may resist the pressure for now, but if Gabriel doesn’t show visible improvement after surviving the bye week, decision time may arrive quickly.