At the beginning of last season, Cleveland Browns‘ management felt content with their two backup quarterbacks behind Deshaun Watson: Dorian Thompson-Robinson and P.J. Walker, both lacking significant NFL experience. Thompson-Robinson was a rookie, while Walker had only started seven games for the Carolina Panthers from 2020-23, resulting in five touchdown passes, 11 interceptions, and 18 sacks.
From a resume standpoint, this appeared to be a relatively inexperienced quarterback lineup for a team like the Browns, who considered themselves Super Bowl contenders. Most competitive teams prefer seasoned veterans as backup quarterbacks. Watson hadn’t completed a full season as a starting quarterback since 2020, and his backups in Cleveland lacked substantial experience.
When Watson sustained a season-ending shoulder injury in Cleveland’s ninth game of the season, the Browns’ decision not to sign an experienced backup quarterback at the season’s start proved costly. This led to the Browns utilizing five different starting quarterbacks during the 2023 season. Despite this, Head Coach Kevin Stefanski managed to guide the Browns into the playoffs, although their postseason run was brief, ending with a 45-14 loss to Houston in the wildcard game.
This experience likely prompted the Browns to promptly replenish their quarterback roster for the 2024 season. They acquired free agent Jameis Winston and added Tyler Huntley to their practice squad. Winston’s signing is significant considering Watson’s limited appearances due to suspension and injuries since joining the Browns in a 2022 trade with Houston. Winston, the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, has not played a full season as a starting quarterback since 2019, accumulating notable statistics but also leading the league in interceptions.
Although Browns officials have not yet addressed reporters about Winston’s signing or the decision not to re-sign Joe Flacco, Winston is enthusiastic about joining the team. His presence provides the Browns with a seasoned backup quarterback, a necessity for playoff contenders, which was lacking at the start of the previous season and persisted until Flacco’s late-season signing.
While Flacco’s performance salvaged the Browns’ season and garnered widespread support from players and fans, Browns officials opted for a different direction, paving the way for Winston to serve as the backup quarterback in case of Watson’s injury in the 2024 season.
Winston expressed his excitement about working with the team and helping Watson reach his full potential as one of the league’s top quarterbacks.
