Dillon Gabriel’s fiancée had some strong words for Cleveland Browns fans who celebrated the rookie quarterback going down against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Gabriel started his fifth game of the season against the Ravens but didn’t emerge from the locker room after the half. He was placed in concussion protocol and was quickly ruled out.
With Gabriel sidelined, Shedeur Sanders took over at quarterback and was met with raucous cheers at Huntington Bank Field. Gabriel’s fiancée, Zo Caswell, offered an update on the Browns quarterback’s condition and didn’t hold back on fans who cheered his injury.
“To those of you who have reached out concerned about Dillon, he is doing great and will be back soon! We are grateful for your support,” Caswell said in a TikTok video. “And to the ‘Browns’ fans at the game on Sunday night, if you cheered at the start of the second half knowing he was hurt, there’s a special place in h*** for you. You should feel ashamed of yourselves. Players are real people, not fictional characters in a movie. Do better, be better.”
One notable comment on the post came from Travis Hunter’s wife, Leanna Hunter.
“Travis and I are sending you and Dillon SO MUCH love. God has so many good things in store for both of yall,” she wrote.
To be fair, it wasn’t immediately clear to those in the stadium that Gabriel had left the game because of an injury. He’s struggled this season and had thrown for just 68 yards in the first half before exiting. Still, the crowd let its frustration show, booing and even chanting for Sanders whenever Gabriel misfired on a pass.
Sanders was the recipient of loud cheers when he entered the game. But after the matchup, Sanders called on fans to support Gabriel when he’s running the offense.
“Well first let me say this. Dillon’s out there playing and all that, I appreciate the fans. I appreciate everybody, but I’m a good person overall, so I don’t really like him not feeling comfortable, confident when he gets out there,” Sanders said, referencing the boos. “So it puts everything in a tough spot and it’s not helping the team. So that could be taken as, ‘OK, I’m being a distraction even though I ain’t doing nothing,’ You know? I’m not doing nothing.
“But I’m thankful for the supporters, thankful for the fans, thankful for everybody out there that believes. And yeah, when I got out there, I definitely felt them, and I’m truly thankful for it. I’m thankful, seeing all them ’12’ jerseys out there, and it was a great feeling for that.”
Gabriel’s status for Sunday is uncertain but it appears unlikely he’ll be cleared to play on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com said it’s almost a certainty that Sanders will draw his first NFL start this week.
“Browns Shedeur Sanders is expected to start Sunday’s game in Las Vegas with Dillon Gabriel in the concussion protocol. Barring something unexpected, Sanders will make his starting debut, becoming the 42nd Browns starter since 1999,” Cabot wrote on X.
The Browns have yet to make an official announcement. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday he’d provide an update later in the week when more was known about Gabriel’s condition.
Sanders completed just 4-of-16 passes in his half of action against the Ravens for 47 yards with an interception.
The Denver Broncos have seen their young playmakers take leading roles in critical moments this season, and one of them, Pat Bryant, garnered attention from the NFL after his performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11.
The No. 74 overall pick of the 2025 draft, Bryant arrived amid lofty comparisons.
And while it has taken time, Bryant has seen a tremendous uptick in production over the last four weeks for the Broncos, who boast the best record in the NFL at 92 entering their bye.
GettyPat Bryant #13 of the Denver Broncos celebrates against the Arizona Cardinals.
“WR @PatBryant is up for @NFL Rookie of the Week!” the Broncos posted on X on November 18, urging fans to “congratulate” the youngster by reporting and to “vote” for him.
DenverBroncos.com’s Aric DiLalla called it the “most productive performance of his young career, noting Bryant “led all Broncos receivers in receptions in Sunday’s 22-19 win over the Chiefs, with grabs, turning them into 82 yards.
Bryant had a critical 48-yard grab to set up a score, and four of his catches went for first downs.
Bryant is facing stiff competition from his fellow rookie playmakers who were also nominated for their Week 11 showings.
The other nominees are linebackers Carson Schwesinger (Cleveland Browns) and Cody Simon (Arizona Cardinals), running backs Bhayshul Tuten (Jacksonville Jaguars) and TreVeyon Henderson (New England Patriots).
Carolina Panthers wideout Tetairoa McMillan is the final contender Bryant must beat out.
Bryant has 15 receptions for 231 yards and 1 touchdown this season. However, he has a 10-185-1 line on 15 targets over the last four games.
DiLalla noted that Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey, the No. 60 overall pick of the class, won the award for his 3-TD effort in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys. However, Eddie Royal (2008) is the last Broncos receiver to win it.
For Bryant, this is the payoff of what Broncos head coach Sean Payton has said all along.
GettyPat Bryant #13 of the Denver Broncos goes through a drill during the offseason program.
Payton compared Bryant to former New Orleans Saints star Michael Thomas, which the Broncos rookie appreciated while making it clear he wanted to carve out his own lane.
However, Payton’s affinity for Bryant went beyond surface-level comparisons.
“There’s little things that we’re coaching up. But you like what you see. I like what I see. And so, he’s tough. And look, there’s things that … you’re immediately on these guys, and that’s good to great. That’s coaching. But interview him, be around him. It’s so important to him,” Payton told reporters following mandatory minicamp in June.
“I would say that’s probably the case with so many of these young guys. It’s not an accident. There’s a profile we’re looking for. And it’s not easy, always. Sometimes that requires more trips and visits. But we’re looking for a certain profile.”
Payton name-dropped Bryant when praising Harvey ahead of the Broncos’ Week 11 showdown against the Chiefs, saying they were “watching Pat Bryant grow right in front of our eyes.”
Bryant can follow up his strong outing in Week 13 against the Washington Commanders.