Browns Make Intriguing Quarterback Move Before Patriots Matchup

The New England Patriots will square off against the Cleveland Browns in Week 8, and this appears to be a matchup between two teams heading in opposite directions when it comes to their quarterback room. While the Patriots seem to have their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye, the Browns have a big question mark under center in Dillon Gabriel.

Cleveland’s quarterback room was one of the biggest storylines ahead of the 2025 season after they selected both Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft. With Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett in town, nobody really knew who would start for the Browns.

Not even halfway through the season, Cleveland’s quarterback room looks completely different. Both Flacco and Pickett have been traded, while former Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe has been added as an extra layer of depth behind Gabriel and Sanders.

On Saturday, the Browns made an eye-opening move at the quarterback position, as they added Sanders to the injury report with a back injury, which could become important if something happens to Gabriel.

“The Browns are adding backup QB Shedeur Sanders to the injury report after his back tightened up,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported in a post on X. “Sanders will be listed as questionable, and Bailey Zappe will be elevated from the practice squad as a precaution in case he needs to back up Dillon Gabriel.”

If Sanders ends up being unable to go, Cleveland would have to turn to Zappe, who was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster shortly after this news came out. Assuming Gabriel makes it through the game unscathed, though, this development would end up being inconsequential.

It may not seem like much, but it will be worth keeping tabs on Sanders’ status as kickoff approaches for this game. The Patriots are scheduled to take on the Browns at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon, and if they come out on top, they will have earned their fifth straight win.