Dillon Gabriel came into the league with loads of college experience. But through his first four starts, it kind of feels like the Oregon Ducks product is just keeping the seat warm under center instead of proving he’s the franchise guy for the future. And that’s exactly why Cleveland Browns insider Daryl Ruiter didn’t hold back when he tore into the rookie quarterback.

“When Kevin (Stefanski) keeps talking about it’s not just about one player, it’s about all of us,” Ruiter said. “Well, then, ok, what are you doing to make that player better? Because I kind of feel like Dillon Gabriel has gotten worse as the starts have gone. His best start was actually in London against the Vikings. He doesn’t stretch the field, he doesn’t elevate players.”

After Joe Flacco was benched following an ugly 1-3 start, Gabriel got the nod to start in Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings in London. The rookie completed 19-of-33 passes for 190 yards and a couple of touchdowns but failed to secure a win over Minnesota, as the Browns lost 21-17. Since then, things haven’t gotten better for Gabriel.

Of course, many would argue that he led Cleveland to a 31-6 win over the Miami Dolphins, but there, he just had 13-of-18 for 116 yards with zero touchdowns. On top of that, take the Week 8 game against the New England Patriots, for instance. It was probably his worst game of the season. Gabriel completed 21 of his 35 pass attempts for 156 yards and two touchdowns.

He was considered someone who could take care of the ball, but he threw a couple of picks against the Patriots. In the process, the Browns dropped the sixth game of the season, 32-13.

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So far, the rookie has 85 completions on 142 attempts (a 59.9% completion percentage) for 702 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and a passer rating of 78.4. And heading into Week 10 against the New York Jets after the bye week, he’s sitting with an ugly 1-4 in his short NFL career.

The frustration among Browns fans is pretty clear. They’ve been waiting decades to see a quarterback actually develop, and Gabriel isn’t giving them any hope. Many are already calling for Gabriel to be benched in Week 10 in favor of Shedeur Sanders.

And yet, some insiders believe Gabriel’s struggles aren’t entirely his fault. The Browns’ chaotic quarterback carousel this year, featuring Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders, and even Bailey Zappe, has made it nearly impossible for any young quarterback to find rhythm or continuity. According to reports, Pickett and Flacco split most of the first-team snaps through the offseason, leaving Gabriel and Sanders to work mainly with second- and third-string units. When both veterans were later traded away, Gabriel was suddenly thrust into the starter’s role with limited prep time and little chemistry with the offense.

That context helps explain why Gabriel has looked hesitant to stretch the field or push into intermediate zones, issues that may be as much about timing and comfort as arm talent. As one analyst put it, Gabriel was “set up for failure from the start,” forced to operate behind an unsettled offensive plan that never seemed designed with him in mind.

Stefanski’s public stance, meanwhile, has only fueled debate. Moments after Gabriel’s rough outing against the Patriots, the head coach still doubled down on starting the rookie in Week 10 against the Jets, a decision that stunned many, given how ineffective the offense has been. Even before Sanders was deactivated with a back issue, Stefanski admitted that the rookie backup hadn’t taken any first-team reps. That lack of internal competition, some believe, has slowed the team’s ability to adapt and evaluate both young quarterbacks fairly.

But for now, it looks like Gabriel will stay under center a little longer.

How many weeks will the Browns stick with Dillon Gabriel?

Stefanski doesn’t seem to make any changes under the center despite Gabriel’s struggles. Which raises a question: For how long will the head coach stick with the third-rounder before giving Shedeur a shot? The Browns’ insider Ashley Bastock seems to have an answer.

“Two more for sure,” Bastock noted about how many more games Gabriel will start. Bastock has confirmed Gabriel as the starter in Week 9 against the Jets. And after that, she explained that Cleveland is planning to give some time to Gabriel before making a crucial quarterback decision.

“We know they want to see him string some starts together, and that would put him at like five, right? If my math is correct. So that would be stringing some starts together, and you see where you go from there,” she added.

Long story short, the insider believes that Shedeur might not start for a couple of weeks more. In the meantime, the Colorado Buffaloes product is being treated for his back complications. The QB saga in Cleveland has been a long-running story, and it seems poised to continue. For how long? That we shall see.