Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski isn't making a change at quarterback. He made that very clear in the aftermath of a 27-20 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday.

"We're going to stick with Dillon," Stefanski asserted. "Obviously, this is a young player that you're always trying to get one game better and those type of things, but we have to play better as an offense, we have to coach better, all the above." 

In the loss, Gabriel completed 17-of-32 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed five times for 54 yards.

With up-and-coming offensive coordinator Tommy Rees calling the plays for the first time, the offense in general showed some promise. So did Gabriel, who led two touchdown drives in the loss and helped the offense score at least 20 points for just the second time this season.

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Rees dialed up some plays to get Gabriel out of the pocket where he could see the field more clearly, as well. There were some impressive throws at times, but also plenty of misfires.

Those inconsistencies have largely defined Gabriel's first five NFL starts. And even though he appreciates Kevin Stefanski being patient with him, he knows his status as Cleveland's starting quarterback is not guaranteed. 

"When things aren't going well, there's always going to be change, that's part of it, because you keep doing the same thing and don't change anything then, that’s insanity," Gabriel said of Stefanski's declaration to stick with him under center. "Just feel like at times, there's things that went well and we sustained and executed, and then in certain moments we didn't execute, and that starts with me." 

The presence of fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders on the roster as the No. 2 QB only amplifies the pressure on Gabriel to perform well moving forward. Sanders is one of the most polarizing players in all of football, and was regarded by many experts as one of the better quarterbacks overall in the 2025 rookie class.

Still, the Browns selected Gabriel in the third round, a full 50 picks before adding Sanders in the fifth, setting the stage for a unique quarterback dynamic between the two dating back to the spring offseason program. 

The expectation is that at some point, the Browns will want to give Sanders a look this season. And while it may not be coming just yet, the continued inconsistencies from Gabriel, coupled with the continued struggles on offense could expedite that decision. 

While Gabriel understands there's some real pressure on him, he also doesn't have time to look over his shoulder. 

"No, all I can do is control what I can," he asserted. "That's what you gotta do. That's all you got."