Daniel Oyifusi, ESPNO Oct. 23, 2024, 10:09 a.m. ET
Daniel Oyefusi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN. Before joining ESPN, he covered the Miami Dolphins for the Miami Herald, as well as the Baltimore Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.
BEREA, Ohio — Jameis Winston will start at quarterback on Sunday when the injury-plagued Cleveland Browns host the Baltimore Ravens.
Winston stepped into the starting role after Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson both suffered injuries in Cleveland’s loss last Sunday to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski announced the quarterback change on Wednesday, adding that Thompson-Robinson will not need surgery and will practice this week.
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“I look at it as an opportunity to go out there and do my best,” Winston said. “And when I’m at my best, I’m a great NFL player.”
Stefanski told reporters earlier this week that he would not decide on a quarterback until he received a medical update on Thompson-Robinson, who injured a finger on his hand after substituting for Watson against Cincinnati.
Winston under center won’t be the only major change Sunday for Cleveland, as Stefanski also announced that offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey will take over play-calling duties. This is the first time Stefanski has not called plays for the Browns since becoming head coach in 2020.
“I’m always looking at what we can do to be a little better,” Stefanski said. “The reality is we have to be better offensively. Coach Dorsey is someone I rely on heavily, and I feel like this is the right thing to do.”
Dorsey, who was named the Bills’ offensive coordinator before the 2022 season, called up the play for Buffalo before being fired 10 games last season.
The big changes come as Cleveland (1-6) deals with the loss of Watson to a ruptured Achilles tendon — the second straight year the quarterback has suffered a season-ending injury. The Browns failed to score 20 points in any of their seven games to start the season, their longest drought in 15 years.
The Browns signed quarterback Billy Zappe off the Chiefs’ practice squad on Tuesday. He will back up Winston against Baltimore if Thompson-Robinson is inactive.
Winston, a 10-year veteran, provides Cleveland with a more experienced option than Thompson-Robinson, the second-year player, for Sunday’s game against the Ravens. Winston has started 80 NFL games since being selected No. 1 by the Buccaneers in the 2015 draft. The former Heisman Trophy winner said Sunday that he is “ready for whatever role” the Browns have set for him.
“That’s been the story of my career the last few years,” Winston said after the loss to the Bengals. “I am prepared and prepared for whatever role I will play. I am here to serve.”
Winston replaced Thompson-Robinson in Cleveland’s final series on Sunday and orchestrated a 12-play drive that featured a touchdown pass to tight end David Njoku.
Sunday’s game will be Winston’s first start since Sept. 25, 2022, when he was a member of the Saints. Winston will be the 38th starting quarterback for the Browns since 2000, the most in the NFL.
