Todd Monken ignores the massive elephant in the room regarding the Browns' QBs, while Dillon Gabriel challenges Shedeur Sanders

Dillon Gabriel’s return to practice has reopened one of the Cleveland Browns’ biggest quarterback questions, but Todd Monken isn’t treating the situation like an emergency.

Cleveland designated Gabriel for return from injured reserve Tuesday, opening a 21-day window to evaluate the second-year quarterback after a back injury sidelined him for the first four games.

“Get him out there, practice, see where he’s at with his back, and get the reps that we can get,” Monken said at his press conference.

“A lot of that will be on the look squad, or it’ll be individual. But I look forward to seeing him back out there.”

However, Monken’s comments made it clear that the Browns aren’t rushing toward a decision. Gabriel will have to prove his back is ready, regain his rhythm and show he can contribute before Cleveland decides whether to restore him to the 53-man roster.

That patience could be uncomfortable for Gabriel . The Browns already have Deshaun Watson leading the offense, while Shedeur Sanders currently occupies the backup spot. Taylen Green remains another option, creating a crowded quarterback room before Gabriel has even taken a meaningful practice snap.

Gabriel’s situation is particularly complicated because he’s already shown enough to make his roster case compelling. As a rookie in 2025, he appeared in 10 games and started six, completing 59.5% of his passes for 937 yards, seven touchdowns and just two interceptions.

He also impressed during Cleveland’s preseason finale against the New England Patriots, throwing three touchdown passes before his back injury abruptly halted his momentum.

Gabriel’s return puts Sanders under pressure

The bigger issue for Cleveland could ultimately be the quarterback pecking order rather than Gabriel’s health. Activating him would give the Browns four quarterbacks on the active roster unless they make another move. That could mean exposing Green to waivers, finding a trade partner or making another difficult roster decision.

Sanders , meanwhile, has plenty of reason to monitor Gabriel’s practice performance closely. He entered the season ahead of Gabriel on the depth chart, taking the backup role behind Watson .

But Gabriel’s previous production and impressive preseason finish give Monken another legitimate option behind the starter.

That’s where the uncertainty surrounding Gabriel becomes significant for Sanders . If Gabriel returns healthy and immediately looks comfortable, the Browns could have a genuine competition for the backup job. Sanders may have the current advantage, but it isn’t necessarily permanent.

Monken’s refusal to commit is noteworthy. He repeatedly emphasized that Cleveland has three weeks to evaluate him. It’s a sensible approach for a player coming back from a back injury, but it also leaves Gabriel’s Browns future hanging in the balance.

Gabriel must now focus on getting healthy, performing well in practice and forcing Cleveland to make an uncomfortable decision. If he succeeds, Sanders ’ position could become less secure. If he struggles or fails to recover sufficiently, Gabriel could remain on injured reserve for the rest of the season.

There’s also the possibility that Cleveland explores a trade, particularly if Gabriel proves he’s healthy enough to attract interest elsewhere.