Insider hints Browns could soon make controversial Jameis Winston decision

Quarterback Jameis Winston has become an adored figure amid the Cleveland Browns' 3-8 season, as he's been an on-the-field upgrade over Week 1 QB1 Deshaun Watson and has given the team needed positive energy since Watson went down with a ruptured Achilles on Oct. 20.

Nevertheless, ESPN's Dan Graziano revealed in a piece published on Wednesday that Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry may not let Winston finish the campaign as the club's temporary starter. 

"As much fun as the Jameis Winston story is," Graziano explained, "there has been a lot of chatter coming out of Cleveland that the Browns might want to get a look at Dorian Thompson-Robinson before the end of this season to see whether and how he might fit into their future QB plans. Don't be surprised to see Thompson-Robinson get a start or two before the season is over." 

A 2023 fifth-round draft pick, Thompson-Robinson has thus far completed just 51.8 percent of 137 career passes for 522 yards with one touchdown and six interceptions. Some may say the club has nothing to lose in giving the 25-year-old some playing time after it picks up its ninth defeat of the campaign, but it shouldn't be forgotten that the Browns angered many fans when they moved on from backup signal-caller Joe Flacco this past offseason in an apparent attempt to keep Watson happy. 

Sitting Winston, if he continues to be at least a serviceable option, could prove to be an unpopular move among both Cleveland supporters and players. 

With that said, it's been reported over the past week that Watson, Stefanski and Berry will all stay with the Browns through the upcoming offseason. Graziano pointed out that Cleveland could give Winston a chance to compete with Watson for the starting job next summer, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted that Winston "could be enhancing" his value with his play this fall and could receive a QB1 gig elsewhere come March 2025. 

Logic suggests Winston, not Thompson-Robinson, has a better chance of emerging as a "bridge option" for the Browns if they either find a way to move on from Watson or elect to sit him through the 2025 season. 

For now, Winston presumably could quiet any talk about Cleveland turning to Thompson-Robinson anytime soon by producing a solid performance in the upcoming "Monday Night Football" game at the 7-5 Denver Broncos.