Browns roster: Time for Browns to draw the curtain on QB DTR

Second-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson tries, but another rough outing shows he just does not have what it takes to be a starter

The Cleveland Browns arguably reached the high point of the 2024 season on September 8 at about 4:35 p.m.

As Dustin Hopkins’ 51-yard field goal sailed through uprights to give the Browns a 3-0 lead over the Dallas Cowboys, no one knew that everything was about to come crashing down for Cleveland.

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That was the beginning of a seven-game stretch that saw quarterback Deshaun Watson put up historically horrific numbers before being lost to a season-ending injury for the second consecutive year.

Act II brought quarterback Jameis Winston as the starter. And while he was marginally better than Watson, the lowest of all possible bars to clear, the offense with Winston running the show was still historically horrible.

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With nothing left to play for and no reason to continue with the Winston “experience,” head coach Kevin Stefanski opted to open Act III with second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson at the controls. The decision falls under the always popular “see what we have” category as the Browns start turning an eye toward the 2025 quarterback room.

After two games, it is clear that the lesson has been learned: Thompson-Robinson is not a viable option as a starting quarterback, and there should be legitimate doubt about whether or not he can serve as a backup.

In his two starts, Thompson-Robinson has completed just 54.3 percent of his passes (44-of-81) for 327 yards, throwing three interceptions, losing a fumble, tacking six sacks, and failing to throw a touchdown pass.

He also continued the season-long trend of the Browns failing to hit 20 points, which they have done 13 times: seven under Watson, four under Winston, and twice under Thompson-Robinson.

For his short NFL career, Thompson-Robinson has made five starts and completed just 52.4 percent of his passes, with one touchdown pass, 10 interceptions, 13 sacks, and a quarterback rating of 44.8.

Basically, Thompson-Robinson is playing like a fifth-round draft choice who tries hard but just does not have that extra something needed to be successful. That is not to excuse his play, but some perspective relating to expectations should be applied here.

Sadly, Browns fans have seen this before from quarterbacks who found the spotlight far too bright, including:

• Todd Philcox in 1992 against the Seattle Seahawks. In his first start following the release of Bernie Kosar, Philcox’s fumble on the first play of the game was returned for a touchdown by the Seahawks. Philcox went on to finish nine-of-20 for 85 yards and two interceptions in a 22-5 loss.
• Spergon Wynn in 2000 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Making his first NFL start, Wynn was five-of-16 for 17 yards and took five sacks as the Browns managed 53 total yards of offense and minus-9 net passing yards.
• Luke McCown in 2004 against the Buffalo Bills. McCown led the Browns to 26 yards of total offense, was sacked seven times, and finished eight-of-20 for 62 yards and a pair of interceptions.
• Bruce Gradkowski in 2008 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the season finale, Gradkowski was five-of-16 for 18 yards (yes, 18 yards!), was picked off twice (one of which returned for a touchdown), and led an offensive attack that managed just 126 total yards and only crossed midfield once.

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

• Johnny Manziel in 2014 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The unquestioned all-time worst performance from a Browns quarterback, Manziel made his first NFL start a memorable one by going 10-of-18 for 80 yards, with two interceptions and three sacks in leading the offense to 107 yards in a 30-0 loss.

We could go on, but the point has been made. (And, candidly, it does no one’s mental health any good to keep talking about bad quarterback play.) This isn’t to excuse Thompson-Robinson’s performance on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, but rather to highlight that the hyperbole about how bad he played needs to be dialed way back.

So what do the Browns do now as the season finale looms on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens? They should know what Thompson-Robinson brings to the field and there does not appear to be much value in throwing him out there against a Baltimore team that will be playing to win.

Rather, it could be time for Stefanski to pull another favorite strategy from past doomed seasons and give Bailey Zappe the one-and-done final week start at quarterback.

A season that began with promise and unofficially came to a close in early September will officially reach its conclusion Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

And even with one more game to play, it is probably time to drop the curtain on Thompson-Robinson’s time as the starting quarterback.