The Cleveland Browns are turning to Jameis Winston to start at quarterback Sunday against the visiting Baltimore Ravens.
Winston replaces Deshaun Watson, who ruptured his right Achilles tendon when he appeared to hyperextend his leg on a non-contact play in last weekend’s 21-14 setback to the Cincinnati Bengals.
“He’s won a lot of football games. He’s seen a lot of football. So, we have total confidence in him,” Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said of Winston.
Winston, 30, said he’s ready to step up for the Browns (1-6).
“That has been the story of my career the last few years,” Winston said. “I’m ready and prepared for whatever role it is I am to play. I’m here to serve.”
Winston will be making his first start since Sept. 25, 2022. He was a member of the New Orleans Saints at the time.
Stefanski also announced Wednesday that offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey will assume play-calling duties. Stefanski has been calling plays for the team since he became the head coach in 2020.
“I’m just always looking at what we can do to just be a little bit better,” Stefanski said. “And the truth is, we have to be better on offense. Coach Dorsey is somebody that I rely on very heavily, and I just feel like it’s the right thing to do.”
Dorsey previously called plays for the Buffalo Bills.
Winston was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers. After starting the first five seasons for Tampa Bay, he spent four seasons in a backup role with the Saints before signing a one-year deal with the Browns.
He’ll be an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Winston has appeared in 98 games (80 starts) with a 34-46-0 record as a starter. He has a career 61.1 percent completion percentage, throwing for 22,187 yards with 142 TDs and 99 interceptions.
Against the AFC North-leading Ravens (5-2), Winston will become the 39th starting quarterback for the Browns since their return to Cleveland in 1999, when No. 1 overall draft pick Tim Couch manned the position.
After Watson’s injury on Sunday, the Browns turned to second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and he suffered a finger injury in the fourth quarter. Stefanski noted Wednesday that Thompson-Robinson will not require surgery.
