Cleveland Browns: Season-Ending Injury to Deshaun Watson Leaves Browns Uncertain Who Will Start at QB vs. Ravens
After losing Deshaun Watson for the year, it remains to be seen if Jameis Winston or Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start at quarterback Week 8 against the Ravens.
Watson was carted off after a non-contact injury during Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and on Monday the team announced he will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achillies.
Stefanski said he wanted to learn the extent of Thompson-Robinson's finger injury before committing to a starter for Week 8 against the Ravens.
Thompson-Robinson replaced Watson and was 11-of-24 for 82 yards with two interceptions, before suffering a finger injury in the fourth quarter. Winston, who was the team's emergency No. 3 quarterback, finished the game and was 5-of-11 for 67 yards, including a touchdown pass to David Njoku.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin Calls Russell Wilson 'Excellent' in First Start of Season
Russell Wilson's first start of the season gave the Steelers the spark they wanted.
Pittsburgh had its highest point total and largest margin of victory during a 37-15 win over the New York Jets. Wilson (16-of-29, 264 yards, three total touchdowns, no interceptions) looked sharper as the game progressed and made Head Coach Mike Tomlin's decision to start Wilson over Justin Fields pay off.
The Steelers (5-2) will have no worse than a share of the division lead heading into Week 8, pending the outcome of Monday night's game between the Ravens (4-2) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wilson's performance gave the Steelers hope that their offense will perform with more consistency moving forward.
"I thought he was excellent," Tomlin said via Brooke Pyror of ESPN.com. "It has been a while since he's played some ball, but I thought he settled in, knocked the rust off and distributed the ball around and played well."
Wilson did not look hampered by the calf injury he suffered before the season. His favorite target was George Pickens (five catches, 111 yards), whose 44-yard reception set up a Pittsburgh touchdown. Wilson was 5-of-6 on passes of at least 10 air yards, and the Steelers' offense looked more explosive with him at the helm.
"I thought (Offensive Coordinator) Arthur Smith did a great job letting me cut it loose and guys getting open and guys moving around just making tremendous plays," Wilson said. "I thought he called a great game. He helped me get into a groove. ... He said it may take a second. I never believed that, but it did and then we caught a groove, we believed in it."
The Steelers host the New York Giants (2-5) on "Monday Night Football" in Week 8.
Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor Optimistic That Orlando Brown Jr., Geno Stone Injuries Aren't Serious
The Bengals are optimistic that starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (calf) and starting safety Geno Stone (leg) dodged serious injuries during Sunday's victory over the Browns. Both former Ravens left the game early, but Head Coach Zac Taylor said it was a good sign that Brown watched the rest of the action from the sideline.
"I'd certainly say it's more towards the positive side that he was able to be out there," Taylor said via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Stone was carted off the field with an air cast on his leg, but Conway reported that if it's up to Stone, he won't miss any games.
Taylor was also optimistic about Stone.
"It's certainly not as bad as we initially thought it was going to be," Taylor said via the Bengals’ website.
The Bengals (3-4) have won two straight games and host the Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) in Week 8.
"Great teams find ways to win," Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said. "I think we have a chance to be a great team. We're not that yet, but there's a lot of season left to play."
