BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Jameis Winston will start, and offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey will take over play calling Sunday against Baltimore.
Here’s a few Brownie Bites from Wednesday.
Mambo No. 5 – A day after placing Deshaun Watson on injured reserve, Kevin Stefanski announced Jameis Winston will be the starter this week against the Ravens. “Jameis is the guy we've kind of talked about all off season, who works very hard at this, has a ton of experience playing this game, has seen a lot,” Stefanski said. “He prepares really well, so yeah, feel good about it.” Winston threw a touchdown and two-point conversion after having to come on as the emergency third quarterback in Sunday’s 21-14 loss to the Bengals. Could Winston provide a spark to a lifeless offense? “What's more important is our execution,” Winston said. “We have had some good drives, sustained drives. We have to continue to build on drives and give our defense a breather, whether that's taking what the defense gives us, we all want to attack the ball, attack the ball down the field vertically. That's explosive. That's fun football and that's what we're trying to incorporate as offense is get back to playing Cleveland Browns fun football.” Winston has done his part to lead from the sideline this offseason and season. “I think any authentic leadership is really important and he certainly leads in his own way,” Stefanski said. “It's different, but I think the guys really respect him and really respect him because of the work he puts in.” Winston, who spent the last four years as the Saints backup quarterback, is set to make his first start since the 2022 season. “I view this as an opportunity to go out there and be my very best and when I'm my very best. I'm a great NFL starter,” Winston said. Winston becomes the 10th different starting quarterback under Stefanski and 38th for the Browns since 1999.
October surprise – With the offense ranked dead last in a variety of categories and Deshaun Watson out for the season, Stefanski is turning play-calling over to offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey for the remainder of the season. “We have a very, very collaborative process in how we work both during the week and on game day,” Stefanski said. “So I will continue to assist Ken and the offense as we game plan as we get into the game, but I have total confidence in coach Dorsey and the offensive staff.” The Browns offense ranks 32nd in yards, yards per play, passing yards per play, sacks, and third down efficiency; is tied for 31st in first downs per game; 30th in passing; is 29th in scoring per game; is tied for 28th in rushing and tied for 20th in rushing yards per attempt this season. “I'm just always looking at what we can do to just be a little bit better and truth is we have to be better on offense and coach Dorsey is somebody that I rely on very heavily and I just feel like this is the right thing for the team,” Stefanski said. The change, which appears to have been made out of desperation and potentially not by Stefanski himself despite Stefanski saying it was made by him, might be the first sign that Stefanski's job could be in jeopardy if the season continues down the current path.
DTR update – Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who served as Deshaun Watson's back up last week, will not require surgery on his right finger according to Stefanski, but it is unclear if he will be able to back up Winston this week. “I want to see him throw,” Stefanski said. Thompson-Robinson, who is dealing with a jammed right finger injury, was a full participant in practice Wednesday afternoon.
Teller to return – Right guard Wyatt Teller has been designated to return to practice and Stefanski is hopeful Teller will be activated by and available Sunday. “Still got to practice, still got to go against these big D tackles and see how I feel,” Teller told 92.3 The Fan. “But yeah, no, it feels good. I never really felt pain the entire time, even when it happened, I didn't really feel pain. I wasn't screaming and crying and all that stuff, but it definitely did suck.” Teller was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury on September 25.
Stretch run – Quarterback Bailey Zappe was signed off the Chief practice squad but he doesn’t plan to be in Cleveland for the minimum three weeks required under NFL rules. “I think that was kind of what was communicated before when I got here, be here all year and do everything I can to help this team win [the] last, what, 11 weeks, so I'm excited,” Zappe said.
Hines out for season – Running back Nyheim Hines will not be activated Stefanski said as the 21-day window expires and he will not return this season.
Injury report – DNP: RB Jerome Ford (hamstring), S Ronnie Hickman (ankle), LB Jordan Hicks (elbow, triceps), C Ethan Pocic (knee), T Jedrick Wills (knee), DT Quinton Jefferson (personal); LIMITED: CB Tony Brown (ankle), RT Jack Conklin (knee), RG Wyatt Teller (knee); FULL: DE Myles Garrett (Achilles), WR Jerry Jeudy (knee), QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (right finger)
