WATFORD, England (AP) — Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel seems to take everything in stride, like not stressing about his parents being unable to attend his first NFL start.
They’re in his native Hawaii. The game is in London.
“So, fun fact — need to get my dad a passport,” Gabriel said Friday.
Gabriel was selected midweek as the starter for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, taking over from Joe Flacco with coach Kevin Stefanski hoping the 24-year-old quarterback can spark what’s been an anemic offense.
During kickoff at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it will be 3:30 a.m. in Hawaii.
“I’ve always been used to it, when I was in Florida to Hawaii, a six-hour difference. Texting family is a little different,” said Gabriel, an “808” — Hawaii’s area code — tattoo visible on his right thigh as he spoke to local and international reporters at the team’s hotel north of London.
While traveling internationally for your first NFL start might seem daunting, Gabriel said “there’s comfort there” because he was reminded of long flights from Hawaii to various games.
The 5-foot-11 Gabriel will be the fifth different starting quarterback in 10 games, joining Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Bailey Zappe and Flacco. Cleveland is ranked next-to-last in scoring, averaging 14 points per game. The team fell to 1-3 with a 34-10 loss to Detroit last week.
“Preparation allows you to be confident on game day,” said Gabriel, wearing slide sandals over white socks as he spoke. “I even had four weeks prior to this to master how we go through a week.”
Gabriel played in three systems in college — UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon — and was a Heisman Trophy finalist as he led Oregon to a Big Ten title.
“With Dillon, he’s unique and he’s very mature but also his college career was like no other in terms of experience,” Stefanski said. “He can lean on that experience in this situation.”
Stefanski reiterated that Flacco will be Gabriel’s backup Sunday ahead of Shedeur Sanders, the high-profile rookie who slipped to the fifth round in this year’s NFL draft.
Gabriel has played in two games this season — Week 2 at Baltimore and last week at Detroit — and has completed three of four passes for 19 yards and a touchdown.
Garrett weighs-in on Gabriel, Wentz
Four-time All-Pro Myles Garrett participated in practice after having been limited earlier in the week with an ankle problem. He popped right up after slipping on the wet grass Friday in the rain.
He was asked questions about Sunday’s signal callers, and he noted Gabriel’s poise.
“He runs the offense like this is his offense. He comes out smile on his face, chest out, gives the call. It looks like he’s been doing for years, the way he manages the offense,” he said.
Meanwhile, Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz will make his third start in relief of the injured J.J. McCarthy.
The veteran took six sacks in the 24-21 loss to Pittsburgh in Dublin last week as the Vikings dropped to 2-2.
“He holds onto the ball,” Garrett said. “He wants to make that big play. It’s not a bad thing. He does take sacks because he holds onto the ball.”
Wentz is crafty enough to avoid pressure, he added.
“We have to continue rushing, not assume that the play is over,” Garrett said. “He does have the legs to get out of some tackles and he will duck under a lot of guys who come in just flying through, so just have to contain him and be intelligent in how we rush.”
Injury updates
Stefanski wasn’t definitive about the status of several players. He said “we’ll see” about cornerback Greg Newsome (hamstring). On offensive tackle Jack Conklin (elbow), he said: “I’m hopeful but we’ve got to get through the next few days.” Newly acquired tackle Cam Robinson is “coming along,” the coach added.
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