Could Dillon Gabriel be turning the page?The Browns’ rookie quarterback has been nominated for the NFL’s Rookie of the Week Award despite Cleveland losing to the New York Jets last Sunday. However it’s a puzzling nomination, as Gabriel finished the game just 17-of-32 for 167 yards and two touchdowns, adding 54 yards on five rushes—an okay game at best.They lost 27-20 to Justin Fields, who threw for just 54 total yards.Gabriel was nominated for the award alongside TreVeyon Henderson, Tyler Shough, Emeka Egbuka, Jalon Walker, and Nick Emmanwori. In Gabriel’s defense, Egbuka and Walker also lost their games but were still nominated.It’s not as if winning is the only criterion; it clearly isn’t at all, but Gabriel’s performance was far from award-worthy, leading many fans to call it a ‘participation award.’“Tried to sneak in Dillon Gabriel like we wouldn’t notice,” one fan commented on X.“How is Dillon Gabriel even allowed to be here?” another fan questioned.“Why is Dillon Gabriel on here and not Jaxson Dart?” one more fan chimed in, while a fourth said: “Is this a participation award.”To compare Gabriel with the other rookie quarterback on the list, Shough threw for 282 yards, completing 70 percent of his passes with two touchdowns—and he got the win.Gabriel can view this as a positive step if he’s looking at the glass half full and that may be easier said than done, as it has given fans of Shedeur Sanders even more ammunition in their case for another change at QB1.After the loss to the Jets, head coach Kevin Stefanski was quick to back Gabriel, stating he’ll stick with him as the starter this week, as the Browns welcome Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens to town.Gabriel is 1-4 as a starter for the BrownsSanders has been patiently waiting in the wingsGettyMeanwhile, the Dawg Pound faithful may be starting to lose faith in Sanders’ realistic chance to see action this year, or at least anytime soon, after Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot’s latest report.The Browns insider believes it’s not late enough in the season for Sanders to move ahead of Gabriel on the depth chart, given the handful of games still remaining.“A reason not to pull the plug on Gabriel yet is because eight starts is too much for Sanders, their fifth-round pick, when their third round pick has only gotten five (1-4),” Cabot wrote.“If Sanders isn’t any better, or if he’s worse, eight games is a long stretch to endure ineffective QB play.“In that scenario, if the Browns had to make another change, they’d have to either start practice-squader Bailey Zappe or possibly even Deshaun Watson if he passes his medical exams and is ready to play.”Watson or Zappe getting a start this season before Sanders would be a huge indictment on the fifth-round rookie. That would be hard to believe.Gabriel has rarely played up to the standard of an NFL quarterbackGettyNFL's Greatest......Ranking the top 10......Quarterbacks of all-time – Can anyone better Tom Brady?Wide receivers of all-time – Does Randy Moss or Jerry Rice come out on top?Running backs of all-time – Stacking Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith and moreTight ends of all-time – How does Travis Kelce compare?Even harder to believe Gabriel getting nominated for Rookie of the Week.While the Browns sit at a lowly 2-7, they continue to be the gift that keeps on giving—much of that thanks to the ‘will they, won’t they’ saga with Sanders.At this point, even Jerry Jones must be jealous of the attention a team five games below .500 in November is receiving.Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more