Dorian Thompson-Robinson eager to prove he can hold down the Browns starting QB job for final three games

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 …

All Dorian Thompson-Robinson ever wanted was an extended period to be prepared properly as the starting quarterback.

For a variety of reasons – the Browns’ ever-changing drama at QB, and DTR’s own durability issues – it hasn’t happened.

But now it could happen. DTR was told on Monday he will receive his first start of his second season Sunday in Cincinnati. He met with coaches on Tuesday to get a jumpstart on the gameplan.

And although coach Kevin Stefanski would not commit beyond the Bengals game, DTR is looking at it as an opportunity to prove he should be taken seriously as a player in the future. A good three games would cast him in a different light as the Browns hunker down (again) to plan their next “strategy” at the quarterback position.

“Oh, yeah. Best believe we’re trying to take full advantage of it, too,” he said. “We’re going to go out there and we’re going to try to win these games.”

Thompson-Robinson’s body of work has been unimpressive in bits and pieces of 12 appearances – 51.4% completion mark, 1 TD v. 7 INT and a hideous passer rating of 42.6.

But Stefanski pointed out, “I think he had two games where he had the whole week’s worth of preparation. So that’s important here. I think, obviously, diving into the preparation, using every single one of these days to get better. Understand the ‘whys’ of all the plays.”

The two games in which DTR got full preparation were not awful. In a win at home against the Steelers followed by a loss in Denver, DTR was 38 of 73 (52.7%) for 299 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT for a rating of 62.2. He was playing more confidently in Denver until he suffered a concussion with the Browns down, 14-12. They lost, 29-12.

“There’s only one quarterback out there for a reason and that guy needs all the reps he can get,” DTR said. “Whether it’s timing, the footwork, the snapping, the motions, just all the things that it takes to [play the position. Like I said, the operational things can really help you at ease when it comes to throwing the ball and being in the right spot if everything around you is not a headache or chaos.

“I think for any quarterback you want to feel pretty confident going into Sunday with all the reps. And so, now this is my time to show that this is what I needed and that I can’t just be up here talking about needing reps and then get them on and go out there and lay an egg.

“So, I really got to take advantage of this week. Take every walk-through, every meeting, every part of the week as serious as I can and really try to make sure I’m as prepared and comfortable as possible come Sunday.”

DTR knows that interceptions are what cost Jameis Winston the starting job, so he has to cut down drastically on his career 1-to-7 TD-to-INT ratio to earn another start.

“Yeah, I think the biggest thing is it starts today,” he said. “It started this morning. Got the install and I got to make sure I’m very tedious in knowing exactly the intent of the play, who we’re trying to get the ball to and if he is not there or the second guy, I need to have an exit plan. I need to be able to get the ball out of my hand, whether that’s out of bounds, down at somebody’s feet or past the line of scrimmage, or like I said earlier, using these legs. So that’s really my main focus is knowing the intent of the play and then having an exit plan if things don’t go right.”

Deliver him another chance

Winston does not believe his time is over as an NFL starter.

“No, I definitely feel like I showed enough, that I am capable of being a starter in this league,” he said. “However, there are some things that are important for me to get fixed and to get addressed so that I can be the player that I desire to be in this football league.

“But no, it was fun. It was a fun ride. But what’s most important right now is that the ride continues, even if my show stops, the team’s show still goes on and I’m still going to be an instrumental part in help leading this team to some success.”

Winston had glorious home wins against Baltimore and Pittsburgh and finished 2-5 in his seven starts. He tossed 12 TDs and 12 INTs. Pro-rated over a 17-game season, that’s pretty close to a 30-30 season, which he famously pulled off in 2019 in his last year with Tampa Bay.

“In terms of the interception piece, like, man, I’m dismissing that because I know that’s one thing that I’m going to get better at, and I have to if I want to continue to do what I love,” Winston said.

Stefanski said Winston would serve as QB2 in the Cincinnati game.

Just for kicks

Dustin Hopkins returns to his starting role at kicker after a mental week off. “[We] want him to work through this [slump],” Stefanski said. “I thought he had a really, really good week last week in practice, so I’m excited for him to get back out there.”

Riley Patterson, who filled in against the Chiefs, was signed off the practice squad by the Falcons. Stefanski said the Browns were happy for Patterson getting an opportunity but “it was always our decision to turn back to Dustin.”

Brownie bits

DTR would benefit if receiver Cedric Tillman, his high school teammate, could pass through concussion protocol and be active in Cincinnati. Tillman's has missed three games but practiced for the fourth straight day. He isn't out of protocol just yet, but could be ... 

Tight end David Njoku (hamstring) is in his second week of missing practices. It’s looking like another week of Jordan Akins and Blake Whiteheart as TE1-TE2 …

Not surprisingly, the Browns added a tight end to the active roster. They signed Brenden Bates from the Jets practice squad. “We’re still not sure about [Njoku’s] availability, but the signing of the tight end is not related to his availability,” Stefanski claimed …

Martin Emerson (concussion) remained out. So with Greg Newsome on injured reserve, it probably will be Denzel Ward, Cameron Mitchell and rookie Myles Harden to cover Ja’Marr Chase & Co. in Cincinnati on Sunday …

Running back Nick Chubb was placed on injured reserve. The Browns added running back Jacob Kibodi to the practice squad.