Sunday’s game marked the first time this season that Thompson-Robinson played the second role to Winston, and Stefanski was asked Monday what led to that decision.

“Going into the season, I felt like both guys were worthy of being the backup quarterback,” Stefanski told reporters. “I told those guys that early in the season. Because I didn’t have that short-range package with Jameis in the last game, I felt like Dorian had acquitted himself well in training and in his preparation to have him as a backup. to make.”

Watson is currently in the third year of a five-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $230 million that he signed after being traded from the Houston Texans to the Browns in March 2022. He will make $92 million ($46) over the next two seasons. million in 2025 and 2026).

The 29-year-old signal caller has failed to make the impact Cleveland had hoped for when the team sent three first-round draft picks and two other selections to Houston to acquire a QB in Watson, who made the Pro Bowl in threes. of his first four seasons before sitting out the entire 2021 campaign amid a trade request and allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions.

Watson was suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 season and fined $5 million for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. In the six games following his suspension in 2022, Watson has not looked like his former self, completing a career-worst 58.2 percent of his passes.

The Browns QB started just six games during an injury-marred 2023 season that necessitated season-ending shoulder surgery last November, and his struggles continued into 2024.

Watson entered Sunday with just five touchdown passes in six games for the Browns, who have failed to score 20 or more points in a game this season. He finishes his 2024 campaign with a 63.4 completion percentage, 1,148 passing yards, six total TDs (one rushing), three interceptions and a league-leading 33 sacks.

On Monday, Stefanski was asked if he thinks Watson will be the team’s starting quarterback next season once he’s healthy.

“Obviously, I believe in Deshaun,” Stefanski said. “But I also think it’s important to recognize that he just had a serious injury. A bad period for him, and we feel bad for him and know he will recover. But we don’t touch all those things on the road.” .”