The Cleveland Browns released their unofficial Week 8 depth chart Tuesday, October 27, with Shedeur Sanders still ahead of Dillon Gabriel, according to Kelsey Russo's official team report.
Deshaun Watson remains first, Sanders second, Gabriel third and rookie Taylen Green fourth. Gabriel's addition gives Cleveland another reserve option without changing the top two spots before Sunday's visit to Pittsburgh.
Cleveland activated Gabriel from injured reserve on October 26 and waived tight end Carsen Ryan to make room. The announcement credits Gabriel with 10 career appearances, six starts and seven touchdown passes.
At tight end, Harold Fannin Jr. and Blake Whiteheart are the two names listed. Ryan appeared third a week earlier. The trade-off is concrete: Cleveland added quarterback depth while reducing its listed options at tight end.
Right tackle brings another consequential development. Tytus Howard is listed first with an injury marker, followed by Dawand Jones. Parentheses identify injured players on the chart; they are separate from final game designations.
The team reported October 25 that Howard was being evaluated for a concussion after an early third-quarter injury against Tennessee. That gives context to his marker as Cleveland prepares for Pittsburgh.
In the October 20 chart for Week 7, Jones was the backup left tackle, and Howard had no listed backup. Cleveland also placed guard Teven Jenkins on injured reserve October 24, according to its transaction announcement.
For the Browns, preparing the tackle combination that can protect Watson should be a priority. Jones' placement identifies the listed alternative on Howard's side, making the right tackle position worth following through the week's availability updates.
The backfield lists Dylan Sampson second behind Quinshon Judkins. Sampson was absent from the Week 7 chart, which placed fullback Michael Burton immediately behind Judkins. Sampson also replaces Isaiah Bond in the second kick returner slot, giving his chart changes relevance beyond the offense.
Cleveland activated Sampson on October 24 after his stint on injured reserve. He had already returned to game action against Tennessee on October 25: the team's October 26 report credits Sampson and Judkins with a combined 141 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The October 24 activation announcement also listed Sampson with 33 career receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns before his Tennessee return. That receiving experience is another reason to watch his role beyond carries. Over the season, a reserve back who can contribute in multiple ways could make it easier to adjust when the offense needs a different approach.
That production gives the backfield discussion a firmer foundation than ordering alone. Cleveland should aim to keep both backs useful while finding the combination that works against Pittsburgh. The chart assigns no workload; how the Browns distribute opportunities will show how they use those options.
Defensively, Mason Graham and Mike Hall Jr. retain injury markers. Grant Delpit remains first at safety without the parentheses that accompanied his name a week earlier. Cleveland's October 24 announcement said Delpit had cleared concussion protocol and had no injury designation for the Tennessee game.
The broader season question is whether Cleveland can turn its reserve options into dependable help across positions. This week, attention moves to practice participation, final injury designations and game-day decisions. The Browns visit Acrisure Stadium on November 1, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
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