Browns choose Dorian Thompson-Robinson over P.J. Walker in critical game against Steelers on Sunday
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
When any starter goes down, the “next man up” usually means the immediate backup on the depth chart. But instead of replacing injured starter Deshaun Watson with veteran backup P.J. Walker, the Browns’ collaborative process has decided to go back to fifth-round rookie draft pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
It’s a critical decision with first place in the AFC North possibly being on the line Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Both teams are 6-3 – only the second time since 1999 they both are three or more games over .500 in a meeting this late in the season. The winner would inherit first place if Baltimore (7-3) loses to Cincinnati (6-4) on Thursday night.
Affable rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson is the Browns' collaborative process choice to start in a crucial AFC North contest Sunday against the Steelers. (Cleveland Browns)
Thompson-Robinson’s first start was an unfortunate experience. Notified just 90 minutes before kickoff that Watson would not be able to start in the October 1 game against Baltimore, DTR was errant all game and tossed three interceptions in a 28-3 loss to the Ravens.
The Browns believe he was a victim of difficult circumstances and will be better the second time around. The decision was made early so that DTR and the team could work together all week. It was a surprise that coach Kevin Stefanski did not even try to keep the Steelers in the dark.
“I want to give him a week where he knows he’s the starter. He gets a full week of preparation,” Stefanski said. “Young players need exposure. You get better in practice. Sometimes you get better through games.”
The Browns are in the playoff hunt despite leading the NFL with 19 giveaways.
DTR had three interceptions in his one start. Walker has six giveaways (five interceptions, one lost fumble) in his two starts and three quarters in relief of Watson. Stefanski denied that he just couldn’t live with Walker’s turnovers anymore.
“No,” Stefanski said. “I would tell you with P.J., he’s still a guy that we’re counting on. He’s done a great job in the meeting room, on the practice field … has led us in these games. He has to be ready to go at a moment’s notice. Just felt like this was the right decision for the team right now.”
The fact is the Browns will always give players they drafted the benefit of the doubt over players they acquire through other means.
GM Andrew Berry took a gigantic leap of faith by anointing DTR the No. 1 backup to start the season when he traded Josh Dobbs to Arizona at the 53 cut for the equivalent of a swap of a seventh-round pick for a fifth-round pick. Berry then declined to correct that error when he had the chance to reacquire Dobbs at the trade deadline when Watson was still struggling with his original strained rotator cuff injury.
“I’m not really focused on that right now,” Berry said. “We do have a lot of confidence in our current quarterback room. We’re 6-3 and focused on this playoff push. We’re focused on the Steelers. There will be a time for reflection for everything over the course of the year, but that’s really not top of mind right now.”
“We feel good with Dorian’s progression,” Berry continued. “Obviously, he did a nice job, I guess going back to even May. Did a nice job throughout the spring, did a nice job throughout the preseason, really had a tough start under some really difficult circumstances in the first Baltimore game, and we’ve seen him grow really every week since he’s been with us. We think he’s a talented kid. He’s very smart, very diligent as a worker, and we’re pleased with his progress so far. But we’re going to certainly need all hands on deck as we move forward.”
Berry said he would definitely add a third quarterback, but declined to say if it would be a veteran who might help over the course of the long season or a developmental prospect to the practice squad.
The question now is whether the Browns can reach the playoff finish line without Watson, who cost them six draft picks in trade and a guaranteed $230 million for him to waive his no-trade clause in March of 2022.
“It’s not just going to be up to the quarterback,” Berry said. “We have a lot of good players, a lot of good coaches. We’ve navigated a lot of ups and downs throughout the first half of the season. We’ve navigated a lot of adversity and we’re going to continue to do so regardless of the obstacles we face. That’s our job and that’s our mission.”
Brownie bits
Watson went 14 of 14 and oversaw a 15-point comeback in the second half against Baltimore with a high ankle sprain and a dislocated fracture of the glenoid bone in his right shoulder. “It was just such an incredible testament to his physical and mental toughness,” said Berry. “He was already playing with a high ankle sprain, and then one of the things that we’ve learned as we talked to the docs over the past 48 hours is in the infrequent event that this injury occurs with a thrower in their throwing shoulder, usually it restricts the mobility. There’s so much pain that they can’t continue to throw. So for Deshaun to play, call it 2 ½ quarters at a really high level against one of the best defenses in the league with this injury, plus the high ankle, it really is an incredible display of physical and mental toughness on his part.” …
The Watson season-ending injury came the very week running back Nick Chubb underwent a second surgery on the knee that was injured in the first Pittsburgh game in Week 2. At the time, the Browns dedicated the season to Chubb and used that as a rallying point to avoid a massive letdown. Can they do the same now with Watson lost for the season, also? “Can’t dedicate the season to everybody,” linebacker Anthony Walker said with wry chuckle. “He’s a part of us. He knows that just like Chubb is, like all our injured guys. A lot of guys still be around and he’s going to be a crucial part, you know, obviously in our success as we continue to move forward, and he’ll do everything can to be back next year. But, yeah, it sucks, right? But we got a job to do.” …
Right tackle Dawand Jones (knee) remained a practice DNP. Guard Wyatt Teller (ankle) also was a DNP. The good news for the offensive line was versatile backup Michael Dunn (calf) was designated for return from injured reserve and had a full practice. Stefanski declined to speculate on whether James Hudson (right tackle) and Geron Christian (left tackle) would get their second starts against T.J. Watt & Co. on Sunday …
Cornerback Denzel Ward (neck) was limited. Receiver Marquise Goodwin (concussion) was a DNP.
