Browns' Dorian Thompson-Robinson talks bouncing back from poor first start

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson believes he'll bounce back from a rough first regular-season start via this coming Sunday's home game against the 6-3 Pittsburgh Steelers.

"I mean, shoot, I know what to expect now," Thompson-Robinson told reporters during a Thursday news conference, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "Unlike many other people out there, I’ve been in an NFL game. So, I’m not stepping out there for the first time. I know all my keys, all what to look at throughout film, what to watch, who the key players are on their defense and everything now. So, I’m not just going out there wide-eyed anymore. I’m going out there with the things to look at, things to focus on, and a plan to be able to attack them." 

Thompson-Robinson started the Week 4 home game against the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 1 when Deshaun Watson was sidelined with an injury to his throwing shoulder. The fifth-round draft pick ultimately failed to impress and completed 19-of-36 passes for 121 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions in a 28-3 blowout defeat. 

After it was learned Wednesday that Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury this past weekend, head coach Kevin Stefanski surprised many when he named Thompson-Robinson his QB1 over primary backup PJ Walker for the Pittsburgh contest. Walker helped the Browns earn a pair of wins earlier this fall. 

"When you get an opportunity to play and you don’t play up to your standards, then obviously you don’t get the job the next week — it’s frustrating," Thompson-Robinson admitted. "All those emotions just tend to come up naturally. Luckily, I still have a job. I still have to come in this building. I have wonderful teammates and staff that support me and embrace me."

A menacing Pittsburgh pass rush will look to shake Thompson-Robinson's confidence early and often as the Steelers attempt to stay above the 6-3 Browns in the AFC North and overall conference standings. It remains to be seen if and when Stefanski would replace a struggling Thompson-Robinson with Walker during what is a massive divisional clash for both clubs. 

As of Thursday afternoon, oddschecker listed the Steelers as one-point underdogs for Sunday's matchup at Cleveland Browns Stadium.