BEREA, Ohio — Jameis Winston is set to take the field as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns this Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, following the injury of Deshaun Watson, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture last week.

Winston, who last started in 2022 with the New Orleans Saints, will be making his 81st career start in the NFL after being the first overall pick in the 2015 draft. The Browns brought him on board with a one-year contract worth $8.7 million as a free agent in March, looking to stabilize a position they struggled with last season, using five different quarterbacks.

Now at 30 years old, Winston steps into a struggling Cleveland offense that currently sits at the bottom of the league, with the Browns (1-6) failing to reach 20 points in any game this season. Watson sustained his injury while running against the Cincinnati Bengals and is expected to undergo surgery, which will require him to spend a minimum of six months in rehabilitation.

For the majority of the season, Winston has been the second-string quarterback for the Browns, but last week he was pushed to third behind Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who initially filled in for Watson. Thompson-Robinson, however, injured a finger on his throwing hand during the second half of the game against the Bengals. Coach Kevin Stefanski noted that Thompson-Robinson was fortunate to avoid surgery.

In addition to these changes, the Browns have signed quarterback Bailey Zappe from Kansas City’s practice squad. Zappe has experience with the New England Patriots, where he made eight starts over two seasons before being released this summer, adding depth to a position that has seen turmoil.

While Winston brings seasoned experience to the quarterback role, his presence does not erase all the challenges currently facing the team. With Watson out for the season, there is speculation that the Browns may look to draft a new quarterback early in the upcoming draft to secure their future at that position.