NOVEMBER 3: The Browns have named Winston the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes. Cabot does allow for the possibility that Thompson-Robinson could get some starts if the Browns are eliminated from playoff contention, but after his strong showing against the Ravens in Week 8 — albeit against a leaky secondary missing two starters — the job is now Winston’s to lose.
OCTOBER 23: The Browns are making another switch on their quarterback depth chart. Days after it was reported Cleveland was demoting Jameis Winston, the offseason pickup will move into the starting role.
Winston is expected to take over for an injured Deshaun Watson in Week 8, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Prioritized over Joe Flacco to be Watson’s backup, Winston was unexpectedly dropped to the emergency QB3 role as Dorian Thompson-Robinson made another leap. That was believed to be a game plan-specific adjustment, per Schultz, rather than a move that indicated Winston would continue as a third-stringer.
It is nevertheless interesting Winston was viewed as a third-stringer for any game, but Thompson-Robinson had made a similar climb last year. DTR’s progress during training camp prompted the Browns to trade Joshua Dobbs to the Cardinals last summer. The Browns have not seen much from Thompson-Robinson in games, and with the second-year passer now battling an injury, Winston represented the obvious choice to take over in Cleveland’s latest emergency circumstance.
Winston, 30, signed with the Browns on a one-year, $4MM deal. Those terms match what the Colts gave Joe Flacco, with the 39-year-old veteran confirming the Browns never made him an offer to stay. The 2023 Comeback Player of the Year had wanted to stay, expressing fondness for his Cleveland setup on several occasions. Winston, however, joined Jacoby Brissett as the Browns’ preferred options. Not wanting to go where the Patriots did for Watson’s 2022 fill-in (one year, $8MM), the Browns brought in Winston, who still counts as dead money on the Saints’ 2024 and ’25 payrolls.
Watson is believed to have backed a Winston signing, helping to explain Cleveland’s preference compared to a second Flacco contract. The former No. 1 overall pick has made 80 career starts. The runway is clear for the former Buccaneers and Saints starter to run that count to 90, barring injury. Though, the Browns — given how their season has unraveled thanks largely to Watson’s struggles — may want to give Thompson-Robinson more burn to gauge his development at some point. For now, it will be Winston, who has not been a regular starter since a 2022 injury led to his New Orleans demotion.
While Winston is best known for his high-variance 2019 season — which featured 33 touchdown passes, 30 interceptions and 5,109 yards — he played well in Sean Payton’s Saints finale before going down with an ACL tear. The Saints re-signed Winston to a two-year, $28MM deal in 2022 but ended up benching him for Andy Dalton. New Orleans’ Derek Carr deal keyed a Winston pay cut, and the NFC South club dropped its backup via a post-June 1 release this offseason.
A finger injury led Thompson-Robinson out of the Browns’ Week 7 Bengals matchup. While surgery was in play, that will not end up being necessary, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. The team has since signed Bailey Zappe off the Chiefs’ practice squad. If Thompson-Robinson misses time, Cleveland’s Week 8 QB depth chart will feature Zappe backing up Winston.
For the sake of comedy, I hope Winston goes off like Joe did last year! And still watch the Browns stick with Watson next season.
Watson likely never play another down in the NFL.
Some team will make him a backup, I bet.
The cap hit if the Browns drop him will be epic and I can’t imagine what team would take on Watson’s baggage. Who needs that fan backlash?
The baggage he brings by being signed as a backup is not worth what he’d contribute. Same thing with Kaepernick. Vick was different because he still had skills
Jerry Jeudy’s big chance is finally here.
Lmao imagine if he has 320 passing yards and 3 TDs
You might as well. Their season is over. Even if they get a couple wins. They’re not going to over take Baltimore and Pittsburgh. They’ve waited too long to make adjustments now.
Days after it was reported Cleveland was demoting Jameis Winston, the offseason pickup will move into the starting role.
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So they are benching him because he’s no good. But he improved so much in one week that they are starting.
It doesn’t inspire much confidence in the FO.
Like it really matters at this point.