Rookie QB Gabriel ready to make 1st start for Cleveland

Ready or not, Dillon Gabriel will make his first NFL start Sunday.

Gabriel, a 24-year-old whom the Cleveland Browns selected in the third round out of Oregon this spring, insists that he is as prepared as he will ever be.

“You wait for the perfect time, you’re going to wait for a lifetime,” Gabriel said. “So, for me, I’ve always been ready.”

Gabriel will take over under center when Cleveland (1-3) kicks off against the Minnesota Vikings (2-2) on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski announced that he would make a change at quarterback after his team lost 34-10 against the Detroit Lions a week ago. He benched Joe Flacco, a 40-year-old veteran who had six interceptions and just two touchdowns through the season’s first four games.

In comes Gabriel, whom the Browns drafted at No. 94 overall. He has appeared in two games in backup duty, completing three of his four passes for 19 yards and one touchdown.

He could have a fully fortified line with right tackle Jack Conklin practicing without limitations Friday for the first time since Week 1. He officially is listed as questionable as is cornerback Greg Newsome II (hamstring).

Flacco will serve as Cleveland’s No. 2 quarterback behind Gabriel, and rookie Shedeur Sanders will remain as the team’s third signal-caller.

Stefanski said the entire team needed to improve, not just one position.

“We need to coach better, we need to block better, catch better, run better, all of the above. We need to be better,” Stefanski said. “And I know the quarterback position gets quite a bit of scrutiny. I understand that. But this is about our entire team playing better.”

The Vikings also will look for improvement on both sides of the ball. But with an offensive line down several regulars — center Ryan Kelly (concussion), guard Donovan Jackson (wrist), tackle Brian O’Neill (knee) and backup center Michael Jurgens (hamstring) were all ruled out Friday — Minnesota faces a tall task in solving Cleveland’s capable defense.

Minnesota is coming off a 24-21 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Dublin. The Vikings scored the final 15 points of the game but could not complete the comeback after falling behind 24-6.

Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz is slated to make his third start of the season against Cleveland. He has completed 66.7% of his passes for 523 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions.

Rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy was ruled out of the game. The team said he’s progressing from his high ankle sprain but not ready to return.

Wentz has the confidence of Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and the rest of the staff.

“I’ve been really happy with him,” O’Connell said. “If you really peel back the layers on it, he’s two tipped-ball interceptions from having a pretty clean sheet and running our offense, helping us score some points.

“Consistency amongst all 11 guys on offense, regardless of who’s in, is what we’re looking for. Because we feel when we do the little things … we can have a good day on offense.”

Justin Jefferson is Wentz’s clear-cut No. 1 target in the passing game. Jefferson has 22 catches for 326 yards and a touchdown in four games, which is considerably more than No. 2 target T.J. Hockenson, who has 13 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.

For the Browns, Jerry Jeudy leads all receivers with 182 yards on 13 catches. Rookie Quinshon Judkins is the team’s top rusher with 49 carries for 237 yards and two touchdowns.