Browns to Start Dorian Thompson-Robinson at Quarterback Against Steelers

With Deshaun Watson out, Cleveland is giving his backup another shot.

With quarterback Deshaun Watson done for the season, the Browns are tapping an unexpected choice to be its new starting quarterback.

Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start for Cleveland in its rivalry game against the Steelers on Sunday, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski announced Wednesday afternoon.

The announcement came just hours after news broke that shoulder surgery would sideline Watson for the remainder of 2023. Watson was coming off one of his best performances of the season—a 213-yard outing in a 33-31 Cleveland comeback win over the Ravens.

Now, Thompson-Robinson will make the second start of his career. He completed 19 of 36 passes for no touchdowns against three interceptions during the Browns' 28-3 loss to Baltimore on Oct. 1.

Thompson-Robinson subsequently fell behind P.J. Walker on the depth chart; the latter started Cleveland's October games against the 49ers and Seahawks.

The Browns drafted Thompson-Robinson, UCLA's all-time leading passer, with the 140th overall pick of April's draft.