Browns place QB Dillon Gabriel on injured reserve with back injury, designated for return
The Cleveland Browns will be without one of their young quarterbacks for the early portion of the 2026 season. Rookie Dillon Gabriel has been placed on injured reserve with a back injury and is designated to return, the team confirmed Satu…
The Cleveland Browns will be without one of their young quarterbacks for the early portion of the 2026 season. Rookie Dillon Gabriel has been placed on injured reserve with a back injury and is designated to return, the team confirmed Saturday during final roster cuts.
Browns placed QB Dillon Gabriel on injured reserve, designated for return, due to a back injury.View on X →
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter): Browns placed QB Dillon Gabriel on injured reserve, designated for return, due to a back injury.
Gabriel originally hurt his back during the preseason finale and was still dealing with pain earlier this week, prompting an MRI that revealed an injury significant enough to land him on IR. The Browns beat, via Mary Kay Cabot, pegs the absence at a minimum of four weeks, with rookie Taylen Green sliding in as the No. 3 quarterback in the meantime:
#Browns roster moves to 53: Dillon Gabriel placed on IR with a back injury for at least 4 weeks; Taylen Green is QB3 at least until then; TE Joe Royer on non-football injury list and designated to return: --> https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2026/08/browns-place-dillon-gabriel-on-ir-with-a-back-injury-and-must-miss-4-games-taylen-green-is-qb3-for-at-least-4-weeks.htmlView on X →
Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot): #Browns roster moves to 53: Dillon Gabriel placed on IR with a back injury for at least 4 weeks; Taylen Green is QB3 at least until then; TE Joe Royer on non-football injury list and designated to return: --> https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2026/08/browns-place-dillon-gabriel-on-ir-with-a-back-injury-and-must-miss-4-games-taylen-green-is-qb3-for-at-least-4-weeks.html
The injury designation is questionable but it settles a quarterback room that has been a storyline all preseason. Gabriel, a 2026 draft pick, had been competing for a depth role behind the starters, and the IR designation — while allowing a return later in the year — removes him from the immediate equation.