Current Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson played through a calf injury he suffered on the first series of Sunday’s 24-6 loss to the Bengals in Cincinnati.
On Monday, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Thompson-Robinson is “working through” the injury, and though he’s “hopeful” the second-year passer can play this Sunday vs. the Miami Dolphins, Stefanski said that the 3-12 Browns will figure out their quarterback plans as the week goes on.
He said it’s “premature” to say if Jameis Winston or Bailey Zappe would be the starting quarterback if Thompson-Robinson can’t play. Winston, who was benched ahead of Week 16, didn’t throw much in practice due to a shoulder issue. Winston was the emergency third quarterback for the loss in Cincinnati, which led to Zappe making warmup throws in the game’s first two minutes after Thompson-Robinson’s injury.
Winston was benched after throwing eight interceptions in three games. Thompson-Robinson threw two more in the fourth quarter of what became a 24-6 loss to the Bengals.
Zappe has been on the Browns’ practice squad and active roster at various points since the Browns signed him off Kansas City’s practice squad in October, when Winston became the starter following Deshaun Watson’s Achilles injury. With the team long eliminated from playoff contention and Winston only under contract for the rest of this season, the Browns gave Thompson-Robinson his first start of the season in Cincinnati. Thompson-Robinson went 20-of-34 for 157 yards and the two interceptions.
There have been 479 quarterbacks since 1970 who had made at least 10 career appearances and at least 100 pass attempts, per TruMedia. Prior to the game in Cincinnati, Thompson-Robinson was dead last among those 479 in yards per attempt at 3.7. But after Sunday’s game, he’s up one spot to 478th with a career yards per attempt average of 3.9. Spergon Wynn, who played for the Browns in 2000 and the Vikings in 2001, is now last at 3.8 yards per attempt.
Browns tight end David Njoku suffered a knee injury in Cincinnati and underwent an MRI Monday. Stefanski had no further updates on the 2023 Pro Bowler.
With two games to go, Cleveland would pick fifth if the 2025 NFL Draft was today. According to The Athletic’s projection model, the Browns have a 3 percent chance at the top pick.
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