Last week, the Cleveland Browns saw starting quarterback Deshaun Watson get carted off the field with a torn Achilles. Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over, but he also didn’t make it through the game, forcing emergency QB Jameis Winston into action.
What is the latest on DTR’s injury, and will he be available in Week 8?
When Will Dorian Thompson-Robinson Return From Injury?
Late in the fourth quarter, Thompson-Robinson exited the game with a finger injury. It’s not exactly clear how and when he injured it, however.
When DTR left the game, he was 11 for 24, having thrown for 82 yards, averaging 3.4 yards per reception with two interceptions. He added 44 yards on the ground on three carries.
With #Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson still dealing with the finger injury, Bailey Zappe is expected to be the No. 2 on Sunday behind Jameis Winston.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot)
Winston, serving as the emergency quarterback, took over under center with the Browns trailing 21-6 and instantly looked like the best quarterback on the team, which was a surprise to pretty much no one except, perhaps, the Browns.
Ahead of Week 8, Thompson-Robinson is reportedly having difficulty gripping the football, but was listed as full on Wednesday’s practice report despite supposedly being “limited” by the injury.
Nevertheless, head coach Kevin Stefanski already named Winston the Week 8 starter. Meanwhile, recently signed former New England Patriots QB Bailey Zappe will not only make the game-day roster but serve as Winston’s direct backup.
What Happened to Deshaun Watson?
Watson went down after suffering a non-contact lower leg injury with 1:26 remaining in the second quarter of Sunday’s game.
He was in clear pain as Cleveland’s other players surrounded him on the field. Watson was eventually carted off the field with a towel around his head and was in tears as he exited for the locker room.
Deshaun Watson suffers what appears to be an achilles injury on this play.pic.twitter.com/c55Fd32hn1
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365)
It was later confirmed that Watson did, in fact, tear his Achilles, ending his season.
While Winston had served as Watson’s backup through the first six weeks of the season, the Browns promoted Thompson-Robinson to QB2 ahead of Week 7, so he entered the game on Sunday after Watson went down.
Cleveland selected Thompson-Robinson in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He started three games during his rookie campaign, going 1-2 while completing 53.6% of his passes for 440 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions.
Winston, whom the Browns inked to a fully guaranteed $4 million deal in March, later entered the game as the emergency QB3 following DTR’s finger injury.
Cleveland had continued to stick with Watson as its starting QB despite his historically bad play. Since 2000, no quarterback averaged fewer yards per attempt (5.1) or posted fewer expected points added per dropback (-0.26) over the first six weeks of a season than Watson in 2024.
Regardless of your opinions on Watson, we never root for injuries. It’s unfortunate to see his season end this way, even though his status as the Browns’ starting QB should have ended weeks ago.
Fantasy Football Impact of Jameis Winston Starting
This is the moment Amari Cooper fantasy managers were waiting for all season. I would say it’s a shame it came a week too late, but I doubt any of us would trade Cooper playing with Josh Allen for Winston.
Instead, David Njoku managers can rejoice. We all remember what Njoku did over the second half of the 2023 season (was the overall TE1) with Joe Flacco at quarterback.
Few things are certain when it comes to football. But we can be 100% certain it is impossible for Winston to be worse than Watson.
This new-look Browns offense may not result in them winning more games, but it should result in Cleveland scoring more points and sustaining more drives. After all, I doubt Winston goes 26 consecutive third downs without converting one.
Fantasy managers should treat Njoku as an every-week TE1. Meanwhile, at wide receiver, Cedric Tillman led the team in targets last week and is worth a look to see how things shake out.