CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns are making a significant change at quarterback, opting to start Dorian Thompson-Robinson this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. This decision comes as Jameis Winston has faced challenges throughout his time with the team, notably throwing three more interceptions in the recent loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Winston took on the starting role in October after Deshaun Watson sustained a serious injury, but his tenure has been marred by repeated mistakes, culminating in a total of eight interceptions across three games. His final performance included a third interception in the fourth quarter of the Browns’ 21-7 defeat, leading to the decision to bench him. Thompson-Robinson finished the game against the Chiefs and will now have the opportunity to lead the team against the Bengals (6-8). This information was shared by someone familiar with the situation who preferred to remain unnamed as the team has not yet officially announced the change.

With the Browns sitting at a disappointing 3-11 record, their coaching staff is keen to assess potential talent for the future. Head coach Kevin Stefanski hinted on Monday that decisions were being made around the quarterback position, and his hesitation to fully endorse Winston was a clear indication that a transition was imminent. While Winston initially had some success and brought life to the offense, he ultimately could not minimize his turnovers, ending up with 12 interceptions in just seven starts.

Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round draft pick from UCLA, previously started three games in the 2023 season, ending with a 1-2 record. His career stats show he has completed 75 out of 146 passes for a total of 540 yards along with one touchdown, but he has also recorded seven interceptions. The Browns see this as an opportunity to evaluate Thompson-Robinson for the remaining games of the season, which is crucial as they look to solidify their quarterback situation for the future.

The team is optimistic about the 25-year-old’s potential and aims to use the final three games as a chance to better understand his capabilities as a starter. After Sunday’s game, Thompson-Robinson expressed his eagerness for more playing time. “I’m trying to prove that I’m worth something to this team, that I can help this team in any way I can,” he stated. “If I do get the opportunity, it’s going to be to show, improve and send the rest of this team out on a high note going into next year.”