The Browns' plan at quarterback looks different than it did this time last week.
With QB Deshaun Watson placed on the injured reserve list after suffering a ruptured Achilles in the Browns' Week 7 loss to the Bengals, Jameis Winston will get the start at quarterback in Week 8 against the Ravens.
"Jameis is a guy we've talked about all offseason who works very hard at this and has a ton of experience playing this game, has seen a lot," head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday. "He prepares really well. So, feel good about it."
Winston, who the Buccaneers took first overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, has made 80 starts in his 10-year career. In his final year in Tampa Bay in 2019, he threw for over 5,100 yards and 33 touchdowns, adding 30 interceptions. He then spent four seasons with the Saints, making his most recent start in 2022.
Winston signed with the Browns during the 2024 offseason, coming to Cleveland to serve in a backup quarterback role and add depth to the quarterback room. The veteran has been utilized in a short yardage package at times for the Browns this season, rushing for three first downs.
After QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson exited Week 7 with a finger injury, Winston led a touchdown drive capped by a successful two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter. Winston took the Browns offense 60 yards downfield before finding TE David Njoku in the back of the end zone. On the two-point try, he rolled to his right and found WR Cedric Tillman in the end zone.
"Everything matters," Winston said when asked about his performance against the Bengals. "But my focus is on today, Wednesday. We will get to Sunday. We know [the Ravens] are a great team, but we're preparing to be our very best."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Baltimore Ravens at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive tackle Michael Dunn (68) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Tight end Geoff Swaim (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Running back Gary Brightwell (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Anderson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Run Game Specialist Nick Charlton during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Senior Offensive Assistant Bill Musgrave during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 23, 2024.
Center Cameron Tom (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 24, 2024.
In his 10 years in the NFL, Winston has grown as both a quarterback and a leader, learning the importance of proper preparation. In New Orleans, he served as the backup for QB Drew Brees in 2020 before taking the reins in 2021 after Brees retired. He led the Saints to a 5-2 record before tearing his ACL and missing the remainder of the season.
Winston credited Brees and then-Saints head coach Sean Payton with helping him evolve in his preparation for a game and his decision-making ability.
"I understood the importance of the process of being an NFL quarterback," Winston said of his time with Brees. "What does it take to beat this specific team? What does it take for a quarterback to make the plays that he should make and not make the plays that he shouldn't make?"
Winston described himself as "not the guy that hangs on the fence" when it comes to being a vocal leader, calling one of his greatest traits his ability to be authentic.
Even when he was a backup behind Watson, Winston's leadership was visible from his pregame speeches to his presence on the sideline.
"Jameis has always been that spark that we needed," RB Nick Chubb said on Wednesday. "He's always a great leader on and off the field. He makes plays with his arm. He has a cannon and he's very smart. So, I'm looking forward to playing with him."
The Browns offense, which welcomed the reintroduction of Chubb in Week 7, has been inefficient at times this season. They are the only team in the NFL that has yet to score 20 or more points in a game this year and average just under 254 total yards per game, the fewest in the NFL.
Chubb's return, although it was limited to mainly the first half, provided a boost as the Browns running back found the end zone in the second quarter and the Browns offense topped 300 yards for the first time this season. Now, Winston is looking to make his mark on an offense in need of a lift.
"We have had some good drives, sustained drives. We have to continue to build on drives and give our defense a breather, taking what the defense gives us," Winston said. "We all want to attack the ball downfield vertically, that's fun football. And that's what we're trying to incorporate as an offense and get back to playing Cleveland Browns fun football."
