The Browns' Deshaun Watson era is over. Why Dorian Thompson-Robinson should be QB for now

CLEVELAND – We now know the final chapter of the Deshaun Watson saga in Cleveland. It officially ended at 2:18 p.m. Sunday at the 23-yard line when Watson fell to the ground clutching his right heel in agony.

The Achilles tendon tear will likely be confirmed on Monday and the Browns will begin their disaster relief program to figure out how to move forward from here.

Deshaun Watson played his final snap as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski told reporters that the team believes Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury and that further testing remains to be confirmed.

Here's the play that got Watson injured: pic.twitter.com/zt4GfnRxi3

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 20, 2024

Now we can announce what has been suspected for months: This is officially the worst trade in the history of professional sports. Assuming he doesn't take another snap, Watson's time here ends with more sexual assault allegations (27) than games played (19). As quarterback of the Browns, he won nine games. The team paid him $25.56 million per win, and he has two years left on that permanent contract.

Go deeper

Trotter: Deshaun Watson's injury is the latest (final?) chapter in a terrible story

There will be plenty of time in the coming days, weeks and months to sort through the carnage that brought them here. For now, the Browns have another game next weekend against the Baltimore Ravens and someone has to take the snaps. They are 1-6 and the season is sabotaged, but there are still 10 games left and they are absolutely important. The next 2 1/2 months will determine who gets fired and how many players need to be replaced, because it can't happen again next year.

The Browns were already leaning toward Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback, Watson's injury only accelerated that process. Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey told Thompson-Robinson several times last week to “be ready.” Only no one bothered to tell him exactly what to see.

Go deeper

What is the Browns' plan at QB after Deshaun Watson's injury? The answers are unclear for the present and future

The decision had been made to promote DTR to backup quarterback, but they didn't bother to tell him until the weekend, just hours before the game. He spent the week leading the scout team as usual.

“Our backups really don’t get any reps with them,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said.

When the Browns went through their short-yardage packages during Saturday's walk-through, it was Watson — not Jameis Winston — who took the snaps from center. Some players were confused. Watson was never the short-yardage quarterback here. Previously, the Browns even went so far as to use a backup tight end as the short-yardage quarterback to keep Watson from doing that because he was never particularly good at it, thereby exposing him to unnecessary hits. But a start to the season like this forces teams to step out of their comfort zone.

The plan was finally revealed when Winston was inactive on Sunday and Thompson-Robinson was elevated to the backup role. I believe that Stefanski was ultimately preparing to bench Watson sooner rather than later and install Thompson-Robinson as his starter, but no one needs to admit that now.

Thompson-Robinson was thrust into the starting role Sunday when Watson went down, and he looked just as unprepared as he did last year when he was unexpectedly thrust into the starting lineup just hours before kickoff at home against the Ravens.

Watson insisted all week that he would play against Baltimore despite a right shoulder injury, so the coaches and players took him at his word. Then on the morning of the game he said he couldn't go, allowing Thompson-Robinson to make his first career start as a rookie fifth-round pick with no notice and little preparation. He was a mess in this game, just like he was a mess on Sunday.

“Somehow I remembered being at the Ravens game last year and feeling like I don't want to do this, feeling like this leaves a bad taste in my mouth,” Thompson-Robinson said Sunday. “I need to look in the mirror and make sure I come out prepared next week.”

Thompson-Robinson was 11 of 24 for 82 yards and two interceptions against the Bengals. Still, the Browns can't turn back now. He should start next week against the same Ravens with a full week of preparation and every week after that as long as he can stay healthy. He Had to sit out Sunday's game in the fourth quarter due to an injury to his right middle finger, which was badly wrapped after the game. When he was released, he fell on it, making it difficult to grab a football. He had X-rays taken after the game, but the results won't be announced until Monday.

DTR shows the wheels

📺: #CINvsCLE on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/t44VXz4vJJ

– NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024

Assuming nothing is broken and he can grab a ball by Wednesday's practice, he should be the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. There is no advantage to playing Winston at this point. The Browns know who he is.

Thompson-Robinson remains a 24-year-old unknown. Chances are he's probably a career backup, but the Browns need a definitive answer to that by the end of the season. Now is the time to get it. He made three starts as a rookie last year and seemed to be finding his feet after a loss in Denver before leaving the game with a concussion.

After the Browns signed Joe Flacco, he returned to a backup role and played briefly in Houston on Christmas Eve. After five games, he managed to dislocate his hip, ending his season. If he can't stay healthy, the Browns will get their answer quickly.

By January, this franchise needs to know if Thompson-Robinson is an option for them at quarterback in 2025 and beyond. If not, they should be able to draft another franchise quarterback in next year's draft.

It's an unfathomable situation considering how much money and trade capital they spent to get Watson, but it's the reality of their position. How they sell that to veterans like Myles Garrett and Joel Bitonio is another battle. Can any veteran here be convinced to stick out another rebuild? It definitely feels like it's coming.

Go deeper

Garrett and Winston scold Browns fans who cheered after Watson's injury

There is no easy way out. Whatever the Browns do with Watson's contract after the season is sure to be painful and involve extraordinary, historic dead cap hits over the next few years. But Watson has rarely showcased the skills of a franchise quarterback since arriving here, and the Achilles tendon injury all but seals the end.

The most polarizing and divisive era in Cleveland Browns history has mercifully come to an end.

The damage is just beginning.

Scoop City Newsletter

Free, daily NFL updates delivered straight to your inbox.

Free, daily NFL updates delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign in

(Photo: Jason Miller/Getty Images)