Jared Verse 'Showed Up' Dillon Gabriel At First Practice With Browns
Maybe the Browns just didn't have enough jersey numbers to give out or maybe Jared Verse plans on "buying" it. But some are wondering if the newly-minted Browns pass rusher is flat-out showing up quarterback Dillon Gabriel in his first week with the team.
Verse joined the Browns earlier this week in the blockbuster trade that saw Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett shipped off to Los Angeles. He made his debut in Browns practice this week and was seen wearing the No. 8 jersey.
The No. 8 is currently worn by second-year Browns QB Dillon Gabriel, who is currently third on the team's depth chart. And as far as anyone knows, he hasn't paid off Gabriel to get the number from him. As a result, the two players seem primed to share the No. 8 for the time being.
Verse vs. Gabriel
NFL fans were amused by the move and some had their own ideas of what seems to be going on. A few pointed out that the Browns simply don't have enough jersey numbers right now and are probably waiting for some more cuts before assigning one to Verse, while others believe Verse might be waiting for Gabriel to get cut.
"The issue is that even if Verse wanted to pay for 8 right now, there isn't an available QB number for Gabriel to move to. All numbers 1-19 are already taken or retired. So, they just have to wait it out a bit or maneuver other guys around. Not as simple as just changing numbers," one user remarked on X.
"Paying some bum for his number when he's likely to get cut is insane. Like nah I'm keeping the 50K and taking it. You want to take it up with the staff and be the squeaky wheel go ahead (expletive)," wrote another.
"So 'bold' to show up to a June practice wearing your number of choice that happens to be shared by a QB who will likely be out of the league in a couple years..." a third mocked.
Gabriel certainly had a rough start to his NFL career last year. He was inserted into the starting lineup midseason and went just 1-5 as a starter, completing 59.5-percent of his passes while throwing for 937 yards and seven touchdowns with two interceptions. He took sacks on nearly 10-percent of his dropbacks.
Between his struggles in 2025, Shedeur Sanders' rise above him on the depth chart and the return to full health of Deshaun Watson, Gabriel will be lucky to even make the 53-man roster, let alone play for the Browns in 2026.
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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 11:13 AM.