The Cleveland Browns are heading into their Week 6 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a notable shift under center. Rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel is set to make his second start and first after the team traded veteran Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals. The depth chart now looks clearer: Shedeur Sanders has been promoted to QB2, if not to the starting role.

Which naturally raises a question: Who is the emergency quarterback? Well, no one. Reports suggest Kevin Stefanski’s Browns will face the Steelers without a designated third-string option. Bailey Zappe would’ve been the likely choice, but he’s still on the practice squad.

The Steelers sit atop the AFC North after winning three of their first four games, while the Browns (1-4) are navigating a transition phase with Gabriel taking charge. Coach Stefanski had been cautious about naming Gabriel’s backup, but on Friday, he confirmed that Shedeur will step in as QB2 for Sunday’s game.

As for the third-stringer? Well, the way things are shaping up, Cleveland isn’t signing Zappe to the 53-man roster or elevating him from the practice squad. Instead, the Browns are leaning on the Colorado Buffaloes product.

To put the roster moves in perspective, Kelsey Russo, the Browns’ associate editor and staff writer, reported that cornerback Tre Avery has been elevated from the practice squad for the Steelers game. The move follows a busy week that saw the Browns trade Greg Newsome II to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for cornerback Tyson Campbell.

After a series of roster adjustments, Cleveland heads into Pittsburgh with only two active quarterbacks with higher hopes and that optimism to finally improve their performance. And yes, to end an ugly streak.

Shedeur Sanders finally got promoted

Drafted in the fifth round, Shedeur remained inactive for his first five games as the Browns’ emergency QB. The head coach had been hesitating about his QB2 decisions earlier this week, noting he wanted to see how things “played out.”

“I’m always thinking about our players and what’s best for our players,” Stefanski said. “And I want to make sure when it comes to young football players, particularly at the quarterback position, that you are intentional about your decision-making, and that’s really all it is. So excited for all of our guys.” While Zappe could be an option, Stefanski seems to have faith in the 23-year-old signal caller out of Colorado.

Now, as the Browns head into Acrisure Stadium, they’ll be trying to put an end to a streak that’s been hanging over them for more than two decades. Sure, Kevin Stefanski’s squad pulled off that memorable 48-37 playoff win over the Steelers back in 2021. But in the regular season? It’s been the same story since 2003: Cleveland just hasn’t been able to win in Pittsburgh.

The Browns have lost 21 consecutive games on the road in Pittsburgh. The last time they won was back in 2003 when Tim Couch was running the offense. He threw for 200 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Fast forward to now, Stefanski is heading with two young QBs: Gabriel and Shedeur.