By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS — After a series of injuries at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, they will have a new starter at the position when they head to the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Saints Week 11. Their new starter may be a familiar face with a chance for a bit of revenge.
Former Saints quarterback Jameis Winston was called upon as the Browns’ emergency quarterback after the two passers ahead of him on Sunday went down with injury.
Starter Deshaun Watson was carted off the field after suffering an Achilles injury that will likely end his season. His backup for Week 7, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, left the game with a finger injury. Thompson-Robinson’s injury is not expected to be serious, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, and he is expected to be the “presumptive starter” in place of Watson.
However, that might not last long. The former UCLA Bruin has struggled in his transition to the NFL. Sunday was no exception. He completed just 11 of his 24 passes for 82 yards and threw two interceptions. The Browns may go to Thompson-Robinson in the early goings, but it’s tough to believe that will last long.
The Browns will likely have to turn to Winston in the coming weeks. The former Saints quarterback threw a late touchdown which helped Cleveland narrow the gap with the Cincinnati Bengals. But it was too little too late.
Jameis is in and throwing TDs!
📺: #CINvsCLE on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/FHkCHxhpIa— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
If things go as expected, this would set Winston up with an opportunity to get a shot at the New Orleans Saints in the teams’ Week 11 bout. Winston spent four seasons with the Saints between 2020 and 2023. He was the starter for two of those years with an injury prematurely ending the strong start to his 2021 season.
His 2022 season was cut short as well, but the injuries he suffered weren’t what sidelined him. Instead, the team decided quarterback Andy Dalton was the better option. Dalton would go on to lead the team to another playoff absence.
After that, New Orleans changed course at quarterback entirely, signing then-free agent passer Derek Carr. Winston backed Carr up for a season, going in three times due to injury and taking the snap for a defiant touchdown when a kneel down was supposed to be the call. Many believe that decision helped to seal Winston’s fate in New Orleans, leading to he and the team parting ways and his eventual signing with the Browns.
The Saints are currently on a five-game nosedive after starting out with a remarkably strong pair of wins to open the season. If New Orleans doesn’t right the ship ahead of their Week 11 matchup, Winston may get the opportunity to land a deciding blow on some major decisions New Orleans will have to consider by season’s end.
