While the Browns quickly pivoted to P.J. Walker during Deshaun Watson‘s first bout of shoulder trouble this season, they are now expected to move back to rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
With Watson needing season-ending shoulder surgery, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reports the Browns are expected to turn back to Thompson-Robinson. Despite the UCLA product’s rough outing in Week 4 replacing Watson, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot indeed indicates the expected plan is for the rookie fifth-rounder to retake the reins against the Steelers. Kevin Stefanski has since confirmed the decision.
The Browns saw enough from Thompson-Robinson this summer they were comfortable trading Josh Dobbs to the Cardinals in a pick-swap deal that brought back a 2024 fifth-rounder. Cleveland’s 2023 fifth-round choice, however, struggled in his first NFL action. Thompson-Robinson completed 19 of 36 passes for 121 yards and three interceptions in a 28-3 loss to the Ravens. The Browns then benched the inexperienced passer for Walker, who had arrived as a practice squad QB just before the season.
To be fair, Thompson-Robinson did not have much notice of his first NFL start taking place. A weekend MRI led to Watson being ruled out, and that decision did not occur until just before gametime. This time around, Thompson-Robinson will receive extended practice work ahead of the Browns’ rematch with the Steelers.
Thompson-Robinson, who turned 24 on Tuesday, gained considerable seasoning in college. Thanks to the extra year of eligibility the NCAA provided athletes affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Thompson-Robinson started in four seasons at UCLA. He also received extensive playing time as a freshman in 2018. Through the course of his five-year run in Los Angeles, Thompson-Robinson attempted 1,359 passes. En route to becoming this year’s 140th overall pick, DTR threw a career-high 27 touchdown passes and notched his first 3,000-yard passing season (3,169) while completing 69.6% of his throws last season.
The Browns also picked Thompson-Robinson for his rushing chops. He finished with 600-plus rushing yards in his final two Bruins seasons, totaling 645 and 12 TDs in 2022. Walker does not bring as much of a run-game element to the equation, and the Browns will see what the younger passer can provide in a pivotal rematch. The Steelers prevailed in Week 2, hounding Watson with a sustained pass rush. The 6-3 teams’ rematch will go a long way toward the respective clubs’ playoff standing.
Cleveland is 2-2 in the games Watson did not finish, with Walker piloting both wins. The three-year Panthers backup, however, has completed just 49% of his passes this season. Walker, 28, has made two starts and replaced Watson in Indianapolis. Together, Walker and Thompson-Robinson carry a 1-to-8 TD-INT ratio this season. Whomever the Browns end up calling on to start the bulk of their remaining games, they will face an uphill battle. Though, the team’s No. 1-ranked pass defense will provide a reasonable safety net even without Watson.
Can’t see this working out, they must be throwing up the white flag. PJ Walker gives them the best chance to win, he won ugly games but still won! Dorian-Robinson looked absolutely atrocious on the field.
As the article stated, he was told he was playing right before game time and had few reps. Not to mention he was playing against Baltimore’s excellent defense. He will be more prepared and get first team reps the rest of this week. PJ Walker did not win those games, the Browns defense did. 49% is not an acceptable completion percentage. Walker is what he is, DTR has a lot of potential and is a much better rusher as well.
DTR looked atrocious against the Ravens great defense, PJ Walker has looked atrocious against every defense he’s faced. Makes no sense to play PJ, we know he sucks and there’s no benefit to play him, give the rookie some more experience since the season is over anyway.
Since they’re both equally atrocious as you succinctly put it, why not just play the veteran with an actual track record? Not like it matters or anything
hahahahah. hahahahah.
hahahah Browns stink.
Original and insightful.
And true.
Thanks
hahahaha, but the Browns don’t stink, their defense is tremendous, maybe they should have stuck with Mayfield
Anyway, I hope thye make the playoff still. plenty of free agent QB’s out there
Lol @ playoffs.
Ah, another keyboard warrior. You’re not even worth your mother’s time let alone mine. Spineless loser. Just like your name, you’re nothing but a waste of space that somebody is paying too much money to suck at their job & life.
As a Pittsburgher who’s tired of watching this trash team, from the overrated head coach to a QB who should be holding a clipboard somewhere, it won’t surprise me to see the Browns beat the Steelers this week
Better team, period.
Pickett sucks but not more than the Browns lousy franchise.
The franchise has been the Three Stooges approach since the city got a new franchise. No doubt about that.
But they have the better team this year.
And I was a Tomlin supporter for years, but it’s time for him to go
Someone said “these aren’t your father’s Steelers” and no truer words have been spoken. Other than a few guys like Hayward, this team is trash
Oh I fully agree the Steelers stink – and I’m a Steelers fan. It’s not Tomlin’s fault that Kenny Pickett sucks at football though. I’d imagine it’s partly his fault they wasted the pick on him, but Kenny’s inabilities aren’t Mike, or Canada’s, fault.
No, you’re right about Pickett and truthfully, 22 games in and it becomes clear that there must be a reason they don’t allow him to throw downfield much and certainly not over the middle. I mean, there’s a reason for the dink and dunk and it almost has to be that they understand the kid has limitations So they have a game manager at QB, nothing more
My problem with Tomlin is general stubbornness when it comes to personnel and game strategy.
Glaring limitations. No QB who wears 2 gloves should ever be taken seriously. I do agree Tomlin is stuck in his ways. But he sure does get them guys up every week to play motivated. The lack of playoff success is what really does it for me though. The pirates have more recently won a dang playoff game
The Browns and Steelers are both 6-3 and in good position to make playoffs in a tough AFC. I am shocked by all the negativity. Watson is a loss but Browns are 6-3 due to there defense and running game. Understand the concerns going with a rookie QB but they still have a solid shot at the playoffs..
Two teams that are mirror images of themselves. Good defense, committed to running and good special teams.
It should an old fashioned black & blue game! Gonna be some hitting going on out there.
Not sure why anyone thinks Walker would be a better choice to start over Thompson-Robinson. Walker’s play has bordered on pathetic – which is backed up by PFF’s QB grading criteria, which has him rated next to last among all QBs that have started a game this year (above only Clayton Tune). A well-prepared DTR is surely a better choice.
With a Steelers win Sunday, an upcoming split with the Bengals and season finale win against Ravens, Steelers win division. Tell me that’s not possible. All the Tomlin and Pickett haters will eating crow.
Having a hard time watching another QB wear Brian Sipe’s old number.