Dec 28, 2025, 2:35 PM CUT

Kevin Stefanski on Major QB Change for Browns in Gameweek 17

On Friday, head coach Kevin Stefanski had hinted at another plausible quarterback shuffle for the Week 17 matchup.

That's because ahead of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, rookie Dillon Gabriel injured his shoulder during practice on Friday. "Yeah, soreness popped up," Stefanski explained. However, that meant the Browns were left without a backup quarterback.

So when a reporter asked if Bailey Zappe would fill in, Stefanski replied, “I’d say that’s likely, yes." And that statement became official on Saturday.

Besides QB Zappe, the Browns have also elevated TE Sal Cannella from the practice squad ahead of the Steelers clash. Zappe hasn’t played a single game this season, but will appear in the Week 17 game as a backup QB to Shedeur Sanders.

October 26, 2025 Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski looks on during the second half of the game between the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. /CSM Foxborough United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20251026_zma_c04_164 Copyright: xEricaxDenhoffx

Although the hole has been plugged, Cleveland's latest move only shows how dire the situation is right now.

Cleveland Browns' quarterback crisis

There are many speculations as to what the next year will look like for this franchise. One glaring issue is who will be the starting quarterback.

Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot raised important questions about what the implications of drafting another quarterback to replace Sanders would be. On the Orange and Brown Talk podcast, Cabot pointed out the public's positive opinion of Sanders.

She said that Sanders “brings with him something big and powerful that would be difficult to deal with if you were trying to throw all of your support behind a No. 1 pick.”

But Sanders is only one part of the puzzle. With Deshaun Watson back in the practice squad, it's pretty much given that he'll be the one starting games in 2026.

Afterall the Cleveland Browns signed Watson to a massive $230 million five-year contract in 2022. Yet, repeated injuries have kept the veteran QB away from the field for the entirety of the 2025 season. So it's safe to say that the Browns will be eager to use him once he's ready to go.

That being said, their immediate goal is beat the Steelers, unless they want to repeat a 3-14 record like last season.

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi