Jameis Winston will make his first start of the season at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, while Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey will take over the play-calling duties from Head Coach Kevin Stefanski.
That's two major offensive changes before the Ravens head to Cleveland for Sunday's game.
The Browns (1-6) are riding a five-game losing streak and ranked last in the NFL in total offense. Cleveland lost quarterback Deshaun Watson to a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 7 after he was largely ineffective (five touchdown passes, three interceptions) all season.
Stefanski announced he would start Winston over second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who injured his finger in Week 7 after taking over for Watson. Stefanski said Thompson-Robinson will not need surgery and will practice this week.
Winston completed 5-of-11 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown after entering Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He will face the Ravens making his first start since 2022 with the New Orleans Saints.
"He's a great quarterback; very talented quarterback over the years – highly touted, highly decorated quarterback; played a lot of football; can throw the thing all over the field for sure; push the ball downfield; does a great job with the reads," Head Coach John Harbaugh said.
Dorsey's elevation to play caller means Stefanski will not call plays for the first time since becoming Cleveland's head coach in 2020. Dorsey was the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator (2022-23), but he was fired 10 games into last season before joining Cleveland's staff in February.
While a change at quarterback and playcaller lends to more unknowns in Sunday's game for the Ravens, Harbaugh said their main focus is on playing their defense well and not so much the opponent.
"[Ken Dorsey]'s influences are on the offense already. He's been the offensive coordinator, so he's been putting the offense together – it's a collaboration. So, we understand the plays in there. How he calls them in the game could be different, [or it] could be the same – you just don't know," Harbaugh said.
"Really for us, we need to play our defense that's called well. That's our goal, and that's what it will be."
