In his first season as the Browns offensive coordinator, Ken Dorsey will work with his third starting quarterback as the Browns prepare to face the Bengals in Week 16.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson would start for the Browns after the second-year quarterback out of UCLA replaced QB Jameis Winston in the fourth quarter of the Browns' Week 15 loss to the Chiefs.
As he prepares to design a game plan with Thompson-Robinson's skillset in mind, Dorsey emphasized the importance of trust and communication with the young player.
"Let's play within the system. Let's trust our progressions, trust our reads, trust yourself, trust your guys around you and good things will happen," Dorsey said. "So, I think that's something that's going to be obviously new for me, calling it with Dorian. I haven't called it with him, except in the preseason, and just getting that feel of getting him into a rhythm as quickly as possible."
Wednesday, Dec. 18, was Thompson-Robinson's first regular season practice as the team's starting quarterback this season. Thompson-Robinson started three games last season, leading the Browns to a win over the Steelers in Week 10 and losing to the Ravens in Week 4 and the Broncos in Week 11.
Dorsey was impressed with what he saw in practice as the young player prepares to go on the road to Cincinnati.
"It was good to come out and compete and do some things," Dorsey said. "Just to be able to get a full week under his belt and operate the offense so guys can get a feel for him and his nuances out there, and then him getting a feel for those guys and the receivers and how they're running routes and doing things."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Cincinnati Bengals at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Run Game Specialist Nick Charlton during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive tackle Julian Pearl (60) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Chigozie Anusiem (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Tre' McKitty (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Long snapper Rex Sunahara (50) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs (97) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill (63) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill (63) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Bill Willis Diversity Fellow Nemo Washington during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Tight end Tre' McKitty (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Coaching Consultant Mike Vrabel during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (31) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Defensive end Marcus Haynes (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 18, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Ashton Grant during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Callie Brownson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Running back Jacob Kibodi (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Anderson and Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 19, 2024.
Throughout his time in Cleveland, Dorsey has been impressed with Thompson-Robinson's natural ability and his work ethic. Dorsey said Thompson-Robinson has been preparing like a starter all season, going out to the field well before practice begins to put in extra work.
The two worked closely together as Dorsey called plays during the Browns' preseason games and will now get the opportunity to work together in the regular season.
"I thought he had a great preseason," Dorsey said. "He did a lot of really good things in some of those preseason games, and he was very effective for us, was able to move us and create some opportunities for guys."
Dorsey acknowledged the different skillsets that Winston and Thompson-Robinson possess. While Winston showed an ability to move around the pocket and use his legs to escape pressure, Thompson-Robinson is an even more mobile quarterback, who can extend plays and make plays with his feet.
In four total appearances this season, Thompson-Robinson has 60 yards on just six carries. His ability to take off and run when a play breaks down will result in a slight change in how the offensive line approaches blocking for Thompson-Robinson.
"We expect him to scramble a little bit and make some runs. A lot of his big plays have come from that," LG Joel Bitonio said. "But we're working on that, we'll be ready. We know Jameis is more of a pocket guy, he's going to move around in the pocket a little bit. So, it's definitely a change but we're focused on it and we'll try to be as ready as possible."
With a running quarterback, ensuring that the player is protecting the football while also not taking unnecessary hits is paramount, according to Dorsey. He wants Thompson-Robinson to find a middle ground between making plays with his feet and getting rid of the ball to prevent injuries or turnovers.
"There's that balance of making sure that we're not taking extra hits. We're getting down, being smart with ourselves and moving on to the next play," Dorsey said. "So, as a young player, a lot of times you feel like, 'I can make a play,' and the play's never dead. But at times, sometimes the best decision is an incompletion, and you move on to the next play. So, that's obviously something that you continue to preach just from a learning aspect of it. But I do think he's got a skillset that teams have to account for. And as he grows and as he gets a feel for when to use (his legs) and when to stay in the pocket, I think that'll make him more and more dangerous."
The recent dynamic play of WR Jerry Jeudy could help Thompson-Robinson settle into his role as the starter. In Week 15, Jeudy surpassed 1,000 yards in a single season for the first time of his five-year career. Of his 1,052 receiving yards this season, 786 came after Winston was named the started in Week 8 against the Ravens.
Jeudy, who spent time with Thompson-Robinson in Paris over the offseason, is confident in his ability to build a quick rapport with the quarterback despite his individual success with Winston at the helm.
"He's a great person, somebody that I enjoy hanging out with," Jeudy said. "Now, having him as my quarterback this weekend, it's going to be exciting. I have the ultimate belief in him, and I know what he's capable of and I know what he's willing to do and he's ready to show everybody."
While ensuring Jeudy has plenty of chances with the ball in his hands will be important, Dorsey wants Thompson-Robinson to find a balance between getting Jeudy the ball as well as relying on the other pass catchers in the Browns offense.
Beyond Jeudy, Thompson-Robinson has also connected on passes with WR Cedric Tillman, WR Michael Woods II, RB Jerome Ford, TE Jordan Akins, TE David Njoku and WR Elijah Moore this season.
"Jerry's playing at an extremely high level right now," Dorsey said. "But at the same time, you've got to be able to stay dangerous with your other weapons as well. And we've got really good players in Elijah and David and Jordan and Michael. So, we've got a lot of weapons, and you should make sure that you're staying balanced in how you're attacking the defense."
When he takes the field against the Bengals, Thompson-Robinson will have had three full practices to solidify his connection with his offensive weapons and familiarize himself with the ins and outs of the Browns' offensive game plan.
Dorsey hopes that a full week of practice will prepare Thompson-Robinson for his season debut as the Browns' starting quarterback.
"It was a good first day, a good first step and hopefully we can keep stacking those days and have another good one today, tomorrow and be ready to go on Sunday," Dorsey said.
