To the best of our knowledge, the NFL hasn’t launched an investigation into Dillon Gabriel’s mysterious back injury that’s forced him to miss the first six weeks (and counting) of the regular season.
That’s good news for the Cleveland Browns, who continue to leverage one of the most painfully obvious roster loopholes the league offers.
By placing Gabriel on injured reserve ahead of the NFL’s roster cutdown deadline, the Browns were able to carry all four of their quarterbacks without using an extra spot on the 53-man roster. Gabriel’s IR stint lasted the required four weeks, and the Browns opened his 21-day practice window back on Oct. 6, ahead of their Week 5 game at the New York Jets.
On Wednesday, Gabriel logged his seventh consecutive full practice session, indicating that he's fully healthy. That hasn’t stopped the Browns from ruling Gabriel “out” in back-to-back weeks, and head coach Todd Monken hinted his front office could play that card once again on Sunday.
Gabriel’s practice window expires on Tuesday, Oct. 27. If he’s not activated to the 53-man roster by that date, he wouldn’t be eligible to play in 2026 unless he’s released with an injury settlement.
"When it gets to that day,” Monken said, “we'll decide.”
Dillon Gabriel's mysterious injury has officially become a Browns punchline
It’s typically bad form to make light of injuries, but Gabriel’s situation has become a parody of itself among Browns fans. (Just check out the comments on this tweet by Adam Schefter.)
Browns QB Dillon Gabriel initially hurt his back during the preseason finale, had pain yesterday and underwent an MRI. The injury was notable enough to land him on injured reserve. https://t.co/LuIEFT1Iuk pic.twitter.com/IZ2NS9AxbL
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2026
The team claimed that an injury occurred during Week 3 of the preseason, when Gabriel played the entire first half against the New England Patriots and cooked up a perfect passer rating. He finished 12-of-15 passing for 186 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions — and no trips to the blue medical tent.
Gabriel was shown on the TV broadcast chopping it up with teammates on the sideline throughout the second half.
How the team would approach its quarterback situation with Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Gabriel, and sixth-round rookie Taylen Green was a major storyline following that game. It was that Sunday afternoon — on roster cutdown day — that Schefter reported that an MRI revealed an injury “notable enough to land him on injured reserve.”
“I don’t know exactly when it happened,” Monken said that following Monday. “He feels like it was the third down, on the zone read, that he pulled it. Kind of twisted awkwardly. I think he’s going to be fine. Just a little uncomfortable throwing right now.”
Andrew Berry has played the Dillon Gabriel situation about as perfectly as possible
This is next-level stuff from GM Andrew Berry and the Browns’ front office.
They provided evidence (an MRI), pinpointed when the injury likely happened and, most importantly, delayed any decision related to Gabriel, Green, and the quarterback depth chart for two months. The only trade-off was Gabriel being ineligible to practice with the team for at least the first four weeks of the season.
If the Browns do sacrifice a roster spot for Gabriel on Oct. 27, they’ll have another two weeks to decide on a next move ahead of the NFL’s Nov. 10 trade deadline. Between Sanders, Gabriel, and Green, Cleveland has three young developmental assets that could potentially fetch them draft capital or a starter at another position of need.
Berry plays the game at an elite level, and the Gabriel situation is a shining example. Was he injured in that preseason game against the Patriots? Perhaps. Was the injury so severe to require him to miss the first seven games of the season? Please.
A decision on Gabriel is coming, but the Browns may as well take this thing to the 11th hour. They’ve been operating well within the league’s rules, with some not-so-subtle shades of gray.
Add us as a preferred source on Google