Ahead of a key matchup for the Bengals next week, it looks like the Cleveland Browns are going to shake things up. Mary Kay Cabot is reporting that Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start for the Browns at quarterback. He will replace Jameis Winston ahead of the week 16 contest.
Winston was 2-5 for Cleveland after stepping into the starting role following that ugly injury to Deshaun Watson earlier in the year.
Most recently, Winston threw three interceptions against the Chiefs this past week. After that, he was benched in favor for Thompson-Robinson. Winston has been interception prone all year. He’s thrown 12 picks in his seven starts. The struggling Browns ex-starter chucked multiple interceptions in a game in four of those seven.
Fortunately for the subpar Bengals pass defense, Thompson-Robinson’s numbers are far from elite. In two years, he’s completed 75 of 146 passes (51.4%) for 540 yards and a touchdown against seven interceptions. After coming in for Winston last week he threw an interception of his own and only attempted nine passes.
Things don’t look much better for the Browns on the ground either. Running back Nick Chubb is out for the year with a broken foot. And although Jerry Jeudy is having a great 2024 season for Cleveland with over 1,000 receiving yards, it’s going to be very difficult for a passer like DTR to get him the ball accurately and consistently. This is all good news for a Bengals team that desperately needs this game.Â
Cincinnati has just a five percent chance to make the playoffs. They have to win out, first and foremost, to make that happen. The secondary forced two bad Titans quarterbacks into four interceptions last week. That being said the defense is still 27th against the pass and 31st in points allowed per game. But with a fresh untested starter ready to take the field for Cleveland, that could lead to a similar performance this week as the one we all saw against Tennessee.
