BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns are benching veteran quarterback Joe Flacco and will turn to rookie Dillon Gabriel as their starter for Sunday’s game in London against the Minnesota Vikings.

Flacco will serve as Cleveland’s backup Sunday, while rookie Shedeur Sanders will remain the third-string quarterback.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, who noted that the decision to bench Flacco and start Gabriel was his, said it was “best for the football team.”

Flacco started Cleveland’s first four games but has thrown six interceptions this season, including two during the first half in Sunday’s 34-10 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Gabriel replaced Flacco in the final series in Detroit, as he did for the last possession in a 41-17 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. After the loss to the Lions, Stefanski sidestepped a question about sticking with Flacco in Week 5.

Flacco has an NFL-high eight turnovers, and his 27.0 QBR ranks above only Tennessee Titans rookie Cam Ward among qualifying passers.

Through four games, the Browns’ offense ranks as the NFL’s second lowest in scoring, averaging 14 points per game.

Gabriel will become the 41st different quarterback the Browns have started since returning to the NFL in 1999, the most in the league during that span.

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

The Browns selected Gabriel — a six-year college player at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon — with the 94th pick in April’s draft. Gabriel, 24, has the most QB starts (63) and is responsible for the most touchdowns (189) in FBS history. He finished his college career tied with Case Keenum for the most passing touchdowns (155) in FBS history.

Gabriel, who will become the first quarterback to make his first career start in an international game, received significant practice reps with the starting offense during training camp, which signaled the coaching staff’s belief that he was ready to play sooner rather than later. Stefanski also confirmed Wednesday that Gabriel has received practice reps with the starting offense during the first month of the regular season.

“From the second he’s been here, he’s been working very hard,” Stefanski said. “He’s a very intelligent young man. He’s done a nice job throughout practice, and this whole season he’s been learning how to get yourself ready and understand the rhythm of an NFL week and what that looks like as a backup. Obviously, now feel like he’s ready to go as a starter.”

After spending the 2024 season with the Indianapolis Colts, Flacco reunited with the Browns, signing a one-year, $4 million deal. Flacco, the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, emerged from a crowded quarterback room that also included Sanders and Kenny Pickett.

Pickett was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, leaving Gabriel and Sanders as Flacco’s backups to open the season. Gabriel was named the No. 2 quarterback, while Sanders has been the emergency QB.

“He’s into, man,” Flacco said of Gabriel. “He’s ready to go. I’m sure he’s super excited about this opportunity. You can tell he takes it seriously just by the way he studies and his intent in the meeting rooms and on the practice field.”